Hi Nailler, FYI ref.
but do they pose any type of minor risk in the event of an emergency egress?
- not at 35,000 feet. They would be removed well before the approach and landing.
Once had a passenger threatening cabin crew and frightening everyone else by creating merry hell about his exit being blocked with a drinks trolley .... over Mongolia at 39,000 feet !
As an aside in the DM article, our expert Mr Reid, said they were two hours into the flight...as I remember it BKK-HKG is about 2 hours and 45 minutes over the South China Sea so HKG was probably the closest airport give or take.