(Bangkok) Thai police on Friday charged a Canadian who tried to open, before takeoff, an emergency exit of a plane linking Chiang Mai (north of the country) to Bangkok last Wednesday, causing numerous delays.
“There are two charges, related to causing harm to other passengers and failing to comply with the rules of the aircraft,” said Nattawut Noisorn, a Chiang Mai police official.
The arrested man, aged 40, tried to open an emergency exit of a plane of the Thai national company, Thai Airways, when it was parked on the tarmac before taking off.
“He told us he opened the door because someone on the plane was trying to kill him. He panicked a lot,” Mr. Noisorn said.
Police are investigating whether the accused was under the influence of drugs, or whether he suffered from psychological disorders.
The incident caused the delay of more than a dozen planes in Chiang Mai, the tourist capital of the north of the kingdom, according to the police.
A witness described “chaotic” minutes on board.
“I was sitting in the back of the plane, and I heard a strong wind and screaming coming from the front. It was chaotic,” Watcharapon Pethsurp said.
“He was screaming that a man in black was trying to kill him,” he reported.
The flight was finally able to depart after midnight, more than three hours late, without any injuries to report, according to a Thai Airways press release.
Last May, in South Korea, a man opened the emergency exit of a landing plane, explaining that he wanted to get out of the plane “quickly”. He faces up to 10 years in prison.