A mid-flight disturbance occurred on a Copa Airlines flight from Brazil to Panama when a passenger attempted to open the emergency door. The incident, which was caught on camera, shows the passenger being subdued by the flight crew and fellow passengers. The video has since gained widespread attention online.
Cristiano Carvalho, a 51-year-old photojournalist aboard the flight, captured the tumultuous scene. He recounted how a flight attendant tried to restrain the passenger but struggled due to the man’s strength. The incident occurred Tuesday morning on Copa Airlines flight CM204 from Brasilia to Panama City.
Carvalho stated that the flight was uneventful until about 30 minutes before landing. At that point, the passenger, armed with a plastic knife from his meal tray, rushed to the rear of the plane and attempted to take a flight attendant hostage with the intent of opening the plane door.
Carvalho further recalled how the passenger disregarded warnings and tried to open the emergency door. This action prompted other passengers to step in and prevent the man from opening the door. Despite the man’s strength, the passengers were able to restrain him.
Representatives from Copa Airlines lauded the swift response of the crew and passengers. They confirmed that the necessary safety protocols were implemented to manage the situation until the plane landed in Panama. The representatives also highlighted that the crew’s professionalism ensured the safety of the flight and passengers.
Upon arrival in Panama, the national security team boarded the plane and removed the passenger, handing him over to judicial authorities. Photos taken after landing depict the passenger, who appeared to be injured, being led off the plane in handcuffs.
Copa Airlines has since praised both crew members and passengers for their collective effort in managing the situation. In a similar incident in August, a passenger in Australia was arrested after opening the emergency exit of a grounded aircraft and walking along its wing.