First of all, i am not a MD-88 pilot, but as someone seems to miss the obvious, this humble rampie/de-icing coordinator is no longer able to keep his mouth shut...
IF the MD-88 has the same door/net-configuration as the other MD-80's, then the door must have been locked open since loading.
On every other MD-80 i've seen, you first operate the handle, push the door open, and put the handle back to lock the door in open position. Then you detach the soft sidewalls of the inner door(!) from the fuselage side, and lift the inner door so that it covers the outer door, were it locks into place with latches.
The function of the inner door is to prevent shifting cargo from jamming the operation of the outer door, like a net.
IF this aircraft is configured like every other MD-80 i've seen, then i don't see how it is possible that the door opened in flight, as from the picture, both outer and inner door seem to be secured in the open and locked position, as they would be during a turnaround...
There, i said it.. I'm now ready to be taken to the middle of the woods for a quick lead-poisioning...
