Terrifying moment after plane door opens mid-air
- Thread starter Rover
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Great. Now everyone knows they can do that. Wonder what the FAA will say about it.
west point
Engineer
No comment as I do not know the design of the door/. Other aircraft not possible without major fault(s). Door mechanism is such that it goes in and then out to door stops all around door. Cabin pressure keeps it snug against door stops.
VAtrainfan
Service Attendant
It was less than 1000 feet from the ground and a minute or so from landing, so the pressure differential is close to zero. Still not possible at altitude. But that's not going to stop idiots and the mentally unstable from trying now.
Aircraft was A321. It was less than a 1000' above ground, so there was no pressure difference between outside and inside.
Here is the airliner.net thread on it:
If this becomes a prevalent malfunction of human brains they might require the maintenance of some pressure differential until plane hits the ground in order to prevent repeat.
west point
Engineer
All the planes I flew we kept about 300 feet pressure till touchdown, so passengers do not get that last minute pressure on ears. If cabin was at 1000 feet above airport elevation. What was nice is the pressure controllers will dump cabin on landing by opening outflow valve without any action on part of flight crew.
It will interesting to find out if crew dumped cabin or did not set landing airport elevation before take off. Give origin and destination and can analyze this particular incident.
Perhaps the crew played fast and loose with Cabin Pressurization procedures making this possible?
I would sure like to hope this was a result of slightly improper settings. Still, people could try to open it shortly after landing. Or any time the plane is taxiing or stopped on the ground. After all, they are designed to open and deploy in case of emergency. Just would hate to see this become routine.
In terms of nut cases, I recall that a flight attendant opened one intentionally on the tarmac a few years ago.
In terms of nut cases, I recall that a flight attendant opened one intentionally on the tarmac a few years ago.
Doors have been opened on the ground while taxiing or at other inappropriate places dozens of times. That is not new. What is new is being able to open it while still in the air. On the ground it is mostly inconvenient but not lethally dangerous. In air it is potentially lethally dangerous.
Devil's Advocate
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This incident did not involve a US airline, US aircraft, or US flight, so the FAA may not have much to say publicly. Although shocking in the sense that plug type doors are normally incapable of being opened in flight due to the pressure differential it looks like this was a string unlikely variables lining up just right to allow for a highly improbable outcome.
As someone who flies regularly this nonfatal incident is not especially worrisome. If anything I'm glad to know that even in the extremely unlikely event that someone opens a plug door when it's briefly possible to do so the plane can still land safely. So long as everyone else is buckled up the risk is born by whoever is trying to open the door.
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