Don’t Open Plane’s Emergency Door for the Toilet!
A flight attendant holds an inflatable life vest during a safety presentation on board a VietJet Air aircraft, operated by VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Co., at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg
As VietJet Air flight 175 prepared to leave Hanoi for Ho Chi Minh City, a 43-year-old passenger opened the emergency exit door because he wanted to go to the bathroom.
Nguyen Thanh Chuong, a farmer from a village on the outskirts of Hanoi, activated the Airbus A321’s evacuation slide, causing a three-hour delay and costing the airline tens of thousands of dollars. He’s not alone. The sudden creation of a middle class and the rise of discount carriers is causing headaches for flight crews and ground staff across Asia as the world’s fastest-growing region for aviation welcomes 100 million new fliers every year.