A passenger attempted to open a door on a flight from Vancouver to Toronto, prompting an unscheduled stop. WestJet reported that Flight 710 diverted to Winnipeg on Feb. 16 following the incident. According to the airline, the RCMP and EMS were contacted as per protocol to meet the aircraft upon arrival in Winnipeg, and the passenger was taken into custody. The RCMP announced that an 18-year-old man from Victoria, B.C., is charged with endangering an aircraft under the Aeronatics Act. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 23 in Winnipeg. WestJet emphasized that it’s not possible to open secured pressurized aircraft doors at high altitudes.
Included in the related news stories are reports of passengers attempting to open cabin doors mid-flight and aircrew and passengers restraining a man who tried to open a door mid-flight. These incidents highlight the importance of aircraft safety and the potential consequences of attempting to open aircraft doors during flights.