In a startling incident aboard an Asiana Airlines flight, a man in his 30s opened an emergency exit mid-air, claiming to feel “suffocated” and expressing a strong desire to disembark expeditiously, according to South Korean police. The domestic flight, carrying nearly 200 passengers, was approaching Daegu International Airport, situated approximately 240 kilometers (149 miles) southeast of Seoul, when the incident occurred on Friday.Approximately 200 meters (650 feet) above ground, the unidentified passenger, whose personal details have not been disclosed, took the drastic action of opening the exit door. Authorities promptly apprehended the individual upon landing and have initiated an investigation. During questioning, the passenger revealed that recent unemployment had caused considerable stress, which, coupled with a perceived elongated flight duration, led to a sense of suffocation within the cabin.”He felt the flight was taking longer than it should have been and felt suffocated inside the cabin,” shared a detective from the Daegu police with AFP. “He wanted out quickly.”Under aviation safety laws, the passenger potentially faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for violating regulations.Eyewitness footage captured by a fellow passenger showcased the impact of the opened exit door, with strong winds fiercely whipping through the cabin. The video exhibited fabric seat-backs flailing and passengers’ hair wildly fluttering, eliciting surprised shouts from some individuals. Additionally, a separate video circulated on social media, displaying passengers seated in the emergency exit row contending with buffeting gusts of wind caused by the ajar door.While a dozen passengers required hospitalization due to breathing difficulties, fortunately, no significant injuries or substantial damages were reported, according to the transport ministry.”One by one, people near the door appeared to faint, and flight attendants desperately sought medical assistance from any doctors on board,” shared a 44-year-old passenger with Yonhap. “I thought the plane was going to explode. I thought this was how I was going to die.”An official from the transport ministry informed AFP that this was the first incident of its kind in Korean aviation history. Experts in the field note that South Korea’s aviation industry boasts a commendable safety record, making occurrences like these highly unusual.