Passenger Opens Aircraft Door "Mid Flight"
Discussion
A slightly sensationalist headline from the BBC as the aircraft was 700feet AGL coming in to land, I would have said "in flight" not "mid flight" but still - pretty breezy!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65705276
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65705276
Edited by 48k on Friday 26th May 14:37
At 700ft the differential cabin pressure (the difference between cabin pressure and outside ambient air pressure) wouldn't have been much, if anything. At higher altitudes the higher differential pressure (around 8-9psi on a B737 door in the cruise) keeps the door firmly plugged shut. The lack of differential pressure here would have made opening the door relatively easy, although I'm surprised it appears to have opened forwards against the airflow.
I'm not Airbus rated, so you can take what I say with a pinch of salt with regard to A321 specifics.
I'm not Airbus rated, so you can take what I say with a pinch of salt with regard to A321 specifics.
I'm not anything rated but i watch a lot of Aircrash Investigation which prompts a genuine question - do i remember correctly an investigator saying that the doors are specifically designed to utilise the pressure differentials to "force" the door closed at altitiude and would be impossible to open (as oppposed to merely "difficult")?
Edited by paulmakin on Friday 26th May 21:13
None of the A320 doors have a flight lock ,(777 does) , they rely on being a plug type door and differential pressure to keep them from being opened in flight , however due to the low altitude and the aircraft being on the descent phase of pressurisation it is possible as can be seen in this film .
The door was able to swing forward because it has a door emergency assister bottle which when the door/slide is armed will fire the door open quickly so as not to snag the slide etc and for fast egress , door fires forward , lots of aircraft have these assisters , 757 for example .
If you look at the pictures of the aircraft exterior on the ground you can see the triangular hole in the fuselage under the opened door where because the door was armed , the slide has deployed and been torn off in flight and some kids somewhere have an impromptu bouncy castle !
These doors D3L/R on the A321 are emergency only and not for passenger normal use .
Still pretty scary though !
The door was able to swing forward because it has a door emergency assister bottle which when the door/slide is armed will fire the door open quickly so as not to snag the slide etc and for fast egress , door fires forward , lots of aircraft have these assisters , 757 for example .
If you look at the pictures of the aircraft exterior on the ground you can see the triangular hole in the fuselage under the opened door where because the door was armed , the slide has deployed and been torn off in flight and some kids somewhere have an impromptu bouncy castle !
These doors D3L/R on the A321 are emergency only and not for passenger normal use .
Still pretty scary though !
48k said:
A slightly sensationalist headline from the BBC as the aircraft was 700feet AGL coming in to land, I would have said "in flight" not "mid flight" but still - pretty breezy!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65705276
I'm putting on the pedant hat today, definition of mid flight is "during flight; whilst airborne" so is correct and not sensationalist.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65705276
Edited by 48k on Friday 26th May 14:37
Anyway, I wonder where the slide ended up?
paulmakin said:
I'm not anything rated but i watch a lot of Aircrash Investigation which prompts a genuine question - do i remember correctly an investigator saying that the doors are specifically designed to utilise the pressure differentials to "force" the door closed at altitiude and would be impossible to open (as oppposed to merely "difficult")?
See muddles answer above. You are correct. Edited by paulmakin on Friday 26th May 21:13
As an RAF aircraft engineer who then became aircrew I can guarantee you at altitude with a PD (pressure differential) of 8-10 psi you’re not opening that door. At low altitude with no PD you could do it easily.
I’m ex RAF Sentry E3-D aircrew (airborne tech), so not the Air Engineer who sits on the flight deck. I was onboard once when the outflow valve failed (there are emergency over pressure valves so the aircraft doesn’t over pressurise).
We couldn’t get the doors open to get out when we landed due to the PD being at the emergency pressure valve setting without someone going down below to manually crank the outflow valve open. Oh and I had a stinking headache for a couple of days after and wasn’t allowed to fly for a week subject to medical checks as was the rest of the crew on that flight.
It’s one of the reasons that RAF ground crew who do pressurisation runs have to go for specific medical checks to be allowed to do them.
Sheepshanks said:
Simpo Two said:
A commentator yesterday said that the crew didn't try to stop him because they were strapped in for landing.
Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
Tough one - bit of a struggle and they could end going out of the door.Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
Simpo Two said:
A commentator yesterday said that the crew didn't try to stop him because they were strapped in for landing.
Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
No: if he wants to exit the aircraft at that stage, & is sufficiently capable of doing so, why risk a crew member in an abortive attempt to stop him? The crew seats are usually at either end of the cabin, so it's quite possible they didn't see it playing out anyway,. Their priority is the safety of the other passengers at that point.Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
MarkwG said:
Simpo Two said:
A commentator yesterday said that the crew didn't try to stop him because they were strapped in for landing.
Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
No: if he wants to exit the aircraft at that stage, & is sufficiently capable of doing so, why risk a crew member in an abortive attempt to stop him? The crew seats are usually at either end of the cabin, so it's quite possible they didn't see it playing out anyway,. Their priority is the safety of the other passengers at that point.Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
ambuletz said:
People who do these sort of things need to be arrested, charged and sectioned under some mental health act. You have something seriously wrong with you if you think it's acceptable to open a plane door like that.
This easily falls into the category of getting the police to meet the flight. When they do I've never seen them have a chat. They come in a group of about 8, armed and in no mood for talk. It is most certainly the end of your travelling day if it comes to this. MarkwG said:
No: if he wants to exit the aircraft at that stage, & is sufficiently capable of doing so, why risk a crew member in an abortive attempt to stop him? The crew seats are usually at either end of the cabin, so it's quite possible they didn't see it playing out anyway,. Their priority is the safety of the other passengers at that point.
True. I suppose if some loony wants to jump out, best to let him and close the door afterwards. 'Where Eagles Dare' comes to mind...!It may be that the cabin crew are briefed on exactly that scenario and what (not) to do.
Simpo Two said:
A commentator yesterday said that the crew didn't try to stop him because they were strapped in for landing.
Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
Stage fright possibly. Would have been worth undoing the buckle, no?
You can train a 1000 times but it'll never be the same as dealing with a real unfolding situation.
A well timed boot up the backside might have been prudent.
fozzy280472 said:
the slide has deployed and been torn off in flight and some kids somewhere have an impromptu bouncy castle !
I missed that bit, must have been strange to see it come down.ambuletz said:
People who do these sort of things need to be arrested, charged and sectioned under some mental health act. You have something seriously wrong with you if you think it's acceptable to open a plane door like that.
I reckon it was a suicide attempt. Says he was upset at losing his job.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff