Vietnam Airlines pax tries to open a door

[CaptainEmad]

Vietnam Airlines mid-air scare: New Zealander Mark Ansley 'never thought twice' about restraining man trying to open exit door on flight to Sydney
(ABC news)

I would have thought that at a cabin pressure between 7-8psid, the force needed to open a door would be, well, around 8lbs for every square inch of the doors surface area.

So I am not sure I would have bothered to restrain anyone, particularly this demented tosser.

"After the man had undergone an initial medical assessment he was issued a notice ... for the offence of endangering the safety of an aircraft," the AFP said.

[CurtainTwitcher]

Wake me up when the headline reads "Man Opens Door in Flight".

[Capt Kremin]

A smart lawyer could call into question the validity of the charge.."endangering the safety of an aircraft."

Air pressure and handles that will shear if too much force is exerted on them make it pretty hard to actually do that.

[ampclamp]

Diff pressure, mechanical shearing, opening into the air flow would make it all but impossible to open, but intent would be the key here.

To be honest, despite knowing all this, seeing someone trying to open a door would have my pucker muscle twitching.

1/ I don't wish to test Murphy's law and

2/ they obviously have problems that may result in them doing something else crazy when the door won't open. So subduing is the way to go.

[4dogs]

Capt K,

For the absence of doubt, as they say:

Australian Criminal Code 1995

Part 2.4—Extensions of criminal responsibility

Division 11

11.1 Attempt

(1) A person who attempts to commit an offence is guilty of the offence of attempting to commit that offence and is punishable as if the offence attempted had been committed.

(2) For the person to be guilty, the person’s conduct must be more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence. The question whether conduct is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence is one of fact.

(3) For the offence of attempting to commit an offence, intention and knowledge are fault elements in relation to each physical element of the offence attempted.
Note: Under section 3.2, only one of the fault elements of intention or knowledge would need to be established in respect of each physical element of the offence attempted.

(3A) Subsection (3) has effect subject to subsection (6A).

(4) A person may be found guilty even if:
(a) committing the offence attempted is impossible; or
(b) the person actually committed the offence attempted.

(5) A person who is found guilty of attempting to commit an offence cannot be subsequently charged with the completed offence.

(6) Any defences, procedures, limitations or qualifying provisions that apply to an offence apply also to the offence of attempting to commit that offence.

(6A) Any special liability provisions that apply to an offence apply also to the offence of attempting to commit that offence.