Chinese air passenger who tried to open emergency door and kill himself detained for 15 days
College student threatened to end his life after arguing on the plane with his girlfriend, newspaper reports
A Chinese man who had an argument with his girlfriend on an airliner and attempted to open the emergency door to commit suicide was placed in detention for 15 days after the plane landed, according to a newspaper report.
The 18-year-old college student and his girlfriend, 20, were flying from Chongqing to Beijing on Wednesday morning when the incident occurred, the Beijing Times reported.
The couple started arguing when cabin crew were delivering food.
The girlfriend then told the man they may not be suitable for each other and should cool the relationship for a while, the article said.
The man then suddenly stood up, said he would die in front of her, pushed past his girlfriend and a stewardess and ran to the emergency door.
He was trying to open the door when security staff managed to restrain him.
The man was taken into police custody after landing, the report said.
He was quoted as saying that he only meant to frighten his girlfriend.
“I was so angry and only wanted to scare her. I didn’t want to jump out,” the man told the newspaper. “I didn’t know the consequence of my behaviour or I wouldn’t have done it. Now I’ve learned my lesson.”
He was detained for using aircraft equipment without approval. His girlfriend was fined 200 yuan (HK$232) for disturbing order on public transport.