A South Korean court has ordered a man in his 30s to pay approximately 727 million won in damages to Asiana Airlines for opening an emergency exit door on a flight approaching Daegu International Airport last year. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
DAEGU, Sept. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – A South Korean court has ordered a man in his 30s to pay approximately 727 million won in damages to Asiana Airlines for opening an emergency exit door on a flight approaching Daegu International Airport last year, an incident that caused panic among passengers and significant damage to the aircraft.
The Daegu District Court’s Civil Division 12, presided over by Judge Chae Sung-ho, issued the ruling on September 5 in a lawsuit filed by Asiana Airlines against the defendant, identified only as “A.”
The incident occurred on May 26, 2022, at approximately 12:37 p.m. local time. Asiana Airlines flight 8124, carrying 197 passengers from Jeju to Daegu, was preparing to land at an altitude of 700-800 feet when A manipulated the emergency door lock, causing it to open.
This action not only terrorized passengers but also resulted in the deployment of the emergency slide and damage to the aircraft.
Following the incident, nine passengers, including elementary school children, were taken to hospitals upon landing due to symptoms such as respiratory difficulties.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimated repair costs for damages to three areas of the aircraft, including the emergency exit and slide, at approximately 640 million won.
Investigations revealed that A’s actions were driven by an abnormal anxiety that the aircraft might explode during landing, coupled with an impulsive desire to disembark.
In the initial criminal trial last October, prosecutors sought a six-year prison sentence for A.
However, in November, the court, taking into account psychiatric evaluations indicating that the defendant was of diminished mental capacity at the time of the incident, sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended for five years.
The court also ordered probation and psychiatric treatment.
The prosecution, dissatisfied with the verdict, has appealed the decision. In March of this year, A was also indicted on charges of causing bodily harm to 15 passengers, who reportedly developed adjustment disorders due to the incident.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
