A man was arrested after he tried to open the emergency exit doors of an AirAsia X plane while it was flying to Sydney from Kuala Lumpur. The incident happened on Saturday during the flight, prompting the crew to take immediate action.
The Australian Federal Police reported that the man attempted to open the doors not just once, but twice. After being moved to a different seat in the middle of the plane, he made another attempt to open another emergency exit. The flight crew, along with some passengers, had to restrain him during the ordeal. During this confrontation, he allegedly assaulted a member of the cabin crew.
The man, identified as 46-year-old Shadi Taiseer Alsaaydeh from Jordan, now faces serious charges. He has been charged with two counts of endangering the safety of an aircraft and one count of assaulting a crew member. Each of these charges could lead to a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He was taken into custody when the flight landed at Sydney International Airport.
Detective Acting Superintendent Davina Copelin emphasized the seriousness of such behavior on flights, stating that it could have led to tragic outcomes. She assured that the police would act decisively against anyone who poses a threat to passenger safety.
AirAsia X released a statement confirming that their cabin crew acted appropriately to ensure the safety of everyone on board. They reiterated their zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior.
In court, Alsaaydeh’s lawyers claimed he had taken medication and consumed alcohol before boarding the flight, which may have contributed to his actions. They mentioned that he has no recollection of the events that unfolded during the flight.
Magistrate Anthony Spence expressed his concerns about the incident, highlighting the fear of someone trying to manipulate the exit doors at such a high altitude. He denied Alsaaydeh bail, citing the serious nature of the charges and the potential risk to the community.
Alsaaydeh was reportedly traveling to Australia for a meeting with Jordanian government officials regarding nuclear waste management. He is scheduled to appear in court again on April 8.