At the hearing passenger Billy Campbell who was sitting in seat 25A said that a panicking female passenger pushed past the crew member and opened the door.
After this a formal apology was made by associated press to the crew member.This can be viewed online using local papers for 9th June 2009.
I did not know this. I must have just read the earlier report. I'm glad the AP apologized to her.
It sounds as if the Feds weren't able to locate and interview the female passenger who opened the door and, instead, relied on another passenger's version of what transpired. I wonder if this female passenger could have been brought up on charges of interfering with the performance of a flight crewmember's duties?
ONTPax