Quote from Ian W:
"I would be interested in the thoughts behind the MD8n/717 and Fokker plug type doors. According to the instructions the SLF is expected to stand-up, face the rear of the aircraft pull the handle then unplug and lift the door into the aircraft and lay it on and against the back of the seat."
In my experience (not on F100s), it certainly isn't an easy manoeuvre, particularly with other passengers in the way, although the seat pitch is greater than between other seat rows. But,
AFAIK, in no case is it recommended to place the door on a seat after its removal. The instructions tell you in effect to rotate the door (which is really a hatch) in two axes to enable it to be thrown outside as far clear as possible. Tricky if you have back trouble already. The door usually ends up on the wing, unless it falls off the leading edge.
As
4468,
FE Hoppy and
Piltdown Man have already intimated, these plug-type doors cannot open inwards with even the slightest of positive differential-pressure. So, unless there was a pressurisation failure 15 mins before landing, it seems likely that in this incident only the handle and the trim panel moved.