Man arrested after attempting to open emergency exit twice on Sydney-bound flight

AFP | Austrailia
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A Jordanian man has been arrested and charged after he allegedly tried to open two emergency exit doors mid-flight on an AirAsia X plane en route to Sydney from Kuala Lumpur.

The incident occurred on Flight D7220 on Saturday evening. The passenger, identified as Shadi Taiseer Alsaaydeh, 45, first attempted to open the rear emergency exit door while the aircraft was in the air. Cabin crew, assisted by other passengers, quickly restrained him.

Following the initial incident, Alsaaydeh was moved to a different seat in the middle of the aircraft, but reportedly made a second attempt to open another emergency exit. During the restraint, he also allegedly assaulted a crew member.

Upon arrival at Sydney Airport, officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested Alsaaydeh. He has since been charged with two counts of endangering the safety of an aircraft and one count of assaulting a cabin crew member. He is scheduled to appear at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, April 9. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Davina Copelin condemned the passenger’s actions, stating:

“This man's actions could have had tragic consequences. Passengers and crew should not have to endure unruly, violent, or dangerous behavior. The AFP will act against anyone who jeopardizes flight safety.”

In a statement, AirAsia X confirmed that its trained crew members took swift action to ensure the safety of all on board, noting that at no point was passenger or crew safety compromised. The airline reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for any inappropriate behavior on its flights.

Alsaaydeh’s legal representative claimed that the defendant, a government employee in Jordan’s nuclear waste management sector, has no prior criminal record and no memory of the incident, citing the effects of a mix of medication and alcohol taken before boarding.

The case remains under investigation by Australian authorities.