China travelers open plane exits to protest flight delay

By: 10 years ago

AFP FILE PHOTO

BEIJING, China — Chinese police say two passengers have been jailed for opening aircraft emergency exit doors as the plane was taxiing to protest a lengthy flight delay.

The latest in a growing number of air rage cases involving Chinese passengers happened in the early hours of Saturday morning in the southwestern city of Chengdu, after the China Eastern flight was delayed by a snow storm.

Angry passengers complained about a lack of ventilation and a man surnamed Zhou opened two emergency exits to prevent the plane from taking off, forcing it to return to the gate.

Kunming police said Sunday that Zhou and a tour guide named Li have been placed under 15-day “administrative detention” for opening the doors and incitement with false information.