South Korea’s Asiana Airlines is addressing a recent inflight incident with an interesting precautionary measure…
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Basics of the recent Asiana Airlines exit row incident
Last Friday, an Asiana Airbus A321 operated a rather eventful flight between Jeju (CJU) and Daegu (TAE). The short 205-mile flight was routine, until the approach, when a passenger decided to open the emergency exit door, shortly before touchdown, while the plane was at an altitude of under 1,000 feet.
The man then tried to exit the aircraft, though was restrained by other passengers. The man now faces up to 10 years in jail. He had reportedly told police that he was under a lot of stress after recently losing his job, and he opened the door because he wanted to get off the plane quickly and was feeling suffocated.
While there’s lots of wild stuff that happens on planes, incidents like this are incredibly rare. When planes are at cruising altitude, it’s not possible to open the emergency exit, given the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cabin. So something like this could only happen at a low altitude, and only on select jets (since some planes have a safety system whereby exit doors can’t be opened until a plane is on the ground).
I suppose there’s some fear that there might now be a copycat of this incident, which is leading Asiana to take action…
Asiana Airlines will stop assigning certain exit row seats
As reported by Al Jazeera, Asiana has revealed that it will no longer seat passengers at certain exit row seats on the Airbus A321. Specifically, on Airbus A321s, seats 26A and 31A (depending on the exact configuration) can no longer be assigned. Asiana describes this as a safety precaution, and this measure will apply even if a flight is full.
What makes these seats special? Well, these are the window seats located at the third sets of emergency exit doors. However, unlike the other emergency exit doors, there are no flight attendant jumpseats in this area, meaning that no flight attendant can actively be monitoring this situation during takeoff and landing.
On the one hand, I can appreciate why Asiana would want to make a change that would minimize the odds of something like this happening in the future. On the other hand, I’m not sure this will actually accomplish a whole lot. After all, there’s nothing preventing anyone else from trying to open the emergency exit door, including the person seated 18″ away, in the middle seat.
I mean, even if there were a flight attendant jumpseat there, presumably some passengers could overpower the flight attendant and open the exit, if that was their goal.
Asiana crews are going to have some awkward explaining to do to passengers. I imagine the person seated in the middle seat in the exit row may think they won the lottery when they see an empty window seat, and will politely ask if they can switch to the window seat. Of course they’ll then be denied. If they ask why they can’t sit in the window seat, will the flight attendant explain “so you don’t open the exit and try to jump out,” or…?
Bottom line
Asiana Airlines has stopped assigning select exit row seats on Airbus A321s, after a passenger tried to open the emergency exit door and jump out shortly before the plane landed. I can appreciate that the airline wants to avoid a similar copycat event in the future, though I’m not sure this will actually accomplish a whole lot?
What do you make of Asiana’s new exit row seating policy?
Typical Korean idiocy
Always incredibly entertaining to read Lucky's smug take on these Korea-based Airlines, to which Lucky has never paid a dime to fly by the way, but this particular take is extra entertaining because of his confidence with which he presents a scenario that is purely a figment of his imagination. Truly amazing he thinks anybody flying Asiana domestically would think they "hit the Jackpot" by discovering a vacant exit row window seat next to them....
Always incredibly entertaining to read Lucky's smug take on these Korea-based Airlines, to which Lucky has never paid a dime to fly by the way, but this particular take is extra entertaining because of his confidence with which he presents a scenario that is purely a figment of his imagination. Truly amazing he thinks anybody flying Asiana domestically would think they "hit the Jackpot" by discovering a vacant exit row window seat next to them. Talk about projecting your own self, for whom it seems sitting in a middle seat when the adjacent window seat is empty is simply a cardinal sin, and who seems to believe any such situation would inevitably result in an "awkward" interaction with the FA. You might have a slightly better idea of what it's actually like to fly Asiana, especially domestically, if you had ever paid cash to do so and sat in economy. But why would you ever hahaha.
Weird rant.
....ah, so Lucky told you "no," that one time you asked him out? Got it.
I still could not understand why other passenger just watches and let him open it? Can someone explain?
I still can't understand why anyone stopped him.
Seems like Darwin could've solved this whole situation, to me.
Because most people don’t normally attack others. You’re obviously an expert. Or American.
Because most people don’t normally attack others. You’re obviously an expert. Or American.
Ummmm, "most people" also don't believe it's a great idea to open an aircraft door inflight, and probably wouldn't rush to get near one that is, even if it means letting action-meet-consequence for someone who does....... fairly certain that's not just an "American" thing.
If someone's about to open a door in-flight, I'm certainly not going closer to that door.
Because it happened in Korea, the ahjussi will just say something like "I'm older than you so just shut the f*ck up and sit down since you're younger than me"
People in Asian countries tend to follow the rules much more voluntarily and faithfully than in other countries. I mean, we’re talking about societies that peacefully and calmly queue up to board public transit, and give major side eye to anyone talking loudly on their cell phone, playing loud music or otherwise acting anti socially. I have little doubt that group pressure to follow the rules will keep most individuals from disobeying the FAs announcement...
People in Asian countries tend to follow the rules much more voluntarily and faithfully than in other countries. I mean, we’re talking about societies that peacefully and calmly queue up to board public transit, and give major side eye to anyone talking loudly on their cell phone, playing loud music or otherwise acting anti socially. I have little doubt that group pressure to follow the rules will keep most individuals from disobeying the FAs announcement that 26A/31A is to remain unoccupied the entire flight.
I too thought. But what about the next person over????????
It makes no sense.
The easy fix would be to restrict exit row assignments to elite fliers. If someone regularly flies without trying to open an exit door, there is a high likelihood they won't try on this flight.
You just want to sit in the exit row :).
RE: possible awkward conversations, they’ll probably put a sign on the seat indicating it can’t be used, and in any case will run into less individualistic “i demand to sit there” vibes than in the US
By this logic, all exit row seats by the windkw should be treated equally, even if there is a jumpseat. If a passenger were to try opening doors in flight, the last thing FA should do it would be to fight him anyway.
Americans still have to take their shoes off at TSA checkpoints because ONE nut job twenty years ago tried to light his shoes on fire. Sit with that.
Got even scarier when the Fruit-of-Kaboom bomber tried to light his underwear on Northwest 253 back in 2009. Thought we might have to start showing our skivvies at checkpoints now too.
This reeks of “We’ve got to do SOMETHING!”, no matter how useless.
Exactly. If you were to mention that the person one seat over could ooen the door they would just stare at you in confusion/disbelief. Pretty typical for a Korean company. If you ever go, try to get them to put milk in your coffee at a coffee shop....you'll remember me if you do!
Haha what the heck are you even saying. If you couldn't get people to put milk in your coffee there's obviously something wrong with how you communicate.
I’ve been many times. No issue.
If you ever go, try to get them to put milk in your coffee at a coffee shop....
Wait, huh? Why would that be difficult?
Koreans are all about milk-tea and milk-coffee, especially with boba, and you can get it just about anywhere.