Airline operating guideline to include mandatory passenger warning against opening plane door

Airline operators in Korea will be required to warn passengers against indiscriminately opening aircraft emergency exits, the government said Tuesday, following a recent mid-air plane door opening incident. The transportation ministry said such a measure was included in a draft amendment of the operating guideline for airline operators made available for public review until Dec. 14. Currently airlines are required to announce warnings against in-flight smoking, use of electronic devices and actions that interfere with the duties of the cabin crew, and that such behavior can become subject to criminal prosecution. Passengers who tamper with plane entrances, emergency exits or devices that hinder the security or operation of an aircraft could face imprisonment for up to 10 years under aviation security laws. The measure came following an incident in May in which a 30-something man opened an aircraft door on board an Asiana Airlines flight just minutes before landing at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul.<br/>