First-time flier sets off alarm

Kolkata: A first-time passenger on board an Air Deccan flight triggered an alarm at Bagdogra airport on Monday afternoon when he pried open the emergency exit.
The incident occurred minutes after Delhi-bound flight DN-629 from Guwahati touched down. Even as members of the ground staff were loading baggage into the luggage hold in the aircraft belly, they noticed the emergency door near the aircraft wing move. Seconds later, they stared in horror as the Airbus A320 aircraft door gave way and the emergency escape chute rolled out.
Panicked securitymen cordoned off the aircraft and entered it to investigate the matter. They discovered that a first-time air passenger had accidentally opened the door while fidgeting with the levers out of curiosity.
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Airbus exit open
Siliguri: A group of passengers
flung open the emergency door
of a Delhi-bound Air Deccan plane
at Bagdogra airport to see “how
it worked”. Two were arrested
and 11 from the Manipuri group
coming from Guwahati were
detained. The flight was delayed
by two hours. The curiosity could
have killed over 160 people had
they done that mid-air, said the
airport director.
05/02/07 The Telegraph
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The Manipuri passenger, T Lauri, had purchased a Guwahati-Delhi ticket at a rock-bottom price and was allotted one of the least-preferred non-recline seats alongside the emergency exit.
Lauri was asked to deplane for questioning.
The passenger, it seems, did not heed the warnings inscribed on the door as he could read neither English nor Hindi. Nearly 40% passengers on low-cost carriers like Air Deccan and SpiceJet are first-time fliers.
06/02/07 Subhro Niyogi/Times of India

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Categories: air deccan feb 2007, safety feb 2007