Passenger Opens Aircraft Door: In a startling event on Monday (Jan 8), a passenger on Air Canada Flight AC056 experienced a dramatic fall onto the tarmac at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. The flight, en route to Dubai, was delayed by six hours due to the shocking incident.
The passenger, after boarding, did not proceed to their seat but instead opened a cabin door on the opposite side of the aircraft. This led to a 20-foot fall onto the tarmac as the plane taxied at the gate of the Toronto airport.
“Responding authorities swiftly apprehended the individual, who was then taken to the hospital for treatment. A subsequent police investigation revealed that the passenger was “in a state of crisis” and suffered minor injuries. The current status of their condition remains unclear”.
This incident brings to mind previous tragic occurrences in aviation history. In 2018, an Emirates Airline flight attendant tragically fell to her death from the emergency door of a Boeing 777 at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda while the aircraft was parked at a gate.
“During the same year, another incident involved an Air India flight attendant who suffered severe injuries, including fractures in both heels and soft tissue damage in her chest, abdomen, and lower spine. This incident took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai as she was closing the door of a Boeing 777 during pushback from the gate”.
Such incidents underscore the importance of maintaining the security and safety protocols on aircraft, especially during critical phases such as boarding and pushback. Investigations into the recent Air Canada incident will likely focus on understanding the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s actions and whether there are opportunities to enhance security measures further.
