Passenger Unlocks Airplane Door and Approaches Wing

The man may still be in jail, but it's not clear what charges he may face.

Last Thursday, an odd thing happened on a flight from Mexico City to Guatemala: a passenger, angry about a long delay and the stifling heat, opened the emergency door and walked onto the wing.

Due to a maintenance problem, the Aeromexico flight that was supposed to leave at 8:30am stayed on the tarmac for three hours. People got angry because there was no air conditioning or water available. 

One passenger, who was not named, opened the escape door and stepped onto the wing in a dramatic show of protest. Officials at Mexico International Airport said no harm was done, but the man was still held by police.

But his fellow passengers came together to support him and signed a handwritten message that was shared on social media. "All passengers on the flight from CDMX [Mexico City] to Guatemala [flight] AM 0672 state that the passenger on board who opened the emergency window was for the protection of everyone, with the support of everyone, since the delay and lack of air created dangerous conditions for the health of the passengers." 

The note said, "He saved our lives," pointing out how dangerous the delay and lack of air were. The guests backed the man's actions, saying they were necessary to keep everyone safe. 

According to the report on the event, the passenger's sudden move meant that they had to switch planes. The man may still be in jail, but it wasn't clear what charges he might be facing.