Another door opening in flight attempt: this time, on Air Asia

[Melburnian1]

A Jordanian national on a Saturday AirAsiaX flight bound for Oz allegedly attempted to open a rear emergency exit door and then after having been moved to a middle seat, a middle e.e. door. He was then restrained by other passengers and upon arrival, arrested.

Since it's impossible to open these doors during the middle of a flight, it may well be he suffers from mental illness.

 

[Haplo]

Never understood why its not possible to open doors mid-flight, is it the lock on the actual door or the pressure difference between outside and inside?

 

[Forg]

That’s my understanding (which may be wrong) … I thought that was why the door design pushes “out” to close.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Never understood why its not possible to open doors mid-flight, is it the lock on the actual door or the pressure difference between outside and inside?

That’s my understanding (which may be wrong) … I thought that was why the door design pushes “out” to close.

Pressure.

 

[robbo135]

Man allegedly attempted to open plane door on flight to Sydney

Passengers and crew had to restrain a man from opening the doors of a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney on Saturday.

www.smh.com.au

SMH reporting this was on Air Asia X.

 

[XWu]

Pressure

Yup

Can Aircraft Doors Be Opened In Flight?

Hollywood movies seem to enjoy showing people opening cabin doors during flight. But is this really possible? We are 'open' to exploring this topic.

simpleflying.com

Ironically the air pressure in the cabin mid flight is higher than the pressure outside, hence things fly out of the cabin if some window breaks until the air pressure equalises (lower, which is rather uncomfortable for the pax and makes it hard for them to breathe as well).
So the thing what keeps the door from popping open in pressured cabin has something to do with the inbuilt design

 

[Forg]

So the thing what keeps the door from popping open in pressured cabin has something to do with the inbuilt design

Yes, if you watch the door closing, it comes inside the cabin at an angle and then closes/seals by pushing outwards.

 

[XWu]

Man allegedly attempted to open plane door on flight to Sydney

Passengers and crew had to restrain a man from opening the doors of a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney on Saturday.

www.smh.com.au

SMH reporting this was on Air Asia X.

That appears to be correct. Mind you I did think it was MH when I first read the ABC news this morning (I had kept a record of the original version of that article, it did not actually mention the airline involved then, although the updated ABC version online now states AirAsiaX) so I don’t know how the OP got the MH flight details

 

[Forg]

^ It would indeed match with the impression of MH that we all have!

 

[Quickstatus]

Never understood why its not possible to open doors mid-flight, is it the lock on the actual door or the pressure difference between outside and inside?

Pressure difference between cabin and outside and the doors are designed to open inwards before it can be pushed out - so it acts like a plug.

If the aircraft is at 35,000 feet, the air temp is generally -40⁰C. Air pressure= 3.5 psi
At 35,000 the equivalent altitude in the cabin is around 8000 feet, the air temp is about 20⁰C. So the air pressure =11 psi

The pressure difference is 11-3.5 = 7.5 psi (pound per square inch)

But note the size of the aircraft door. On the A350 it is 70 inches height and 114 inches width
This is nearly 8000 square inches.
Multiply by 7.5
Total net pressure on door = 60,000 pounds or 27 tonnes. You would have to be able to pull this to make the door move inward.

Someone can check the maths please

 

[Quickstatus]

^ It would indeed match with the impression of MH that we all have!

No its D7

 

[RooFlyer]

No its D7

Think you misunderstood the comment

 

[Quickstatus]

you misunderstood the comment

Ah ok I get it now

 

[Forg]

Is D7 a camera?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Pressure difference between cabin and outside and the doors are designed to open inwards before it can be pushed out - so it acts like a plug.

If the aircraft is at 35,000 feet, the air temp is generally -40⁰C. Air pressure= 3.5 psi
At 35,000 the equivalent altitude in the cabin is around 8000 feet, the air temp is about 20⁰C. So the air pressure =11 psi

The pressure difference is 11-3.5 = 7.5 psi (pound per square inch)

But note the size of the aircraft door. On the A350 it is 70 inches height and 114 inches width
This is nearly 8000 square inches.
Multiply by 7.5
Total net pressure on door = 60,000 pounds or 27 tonnes. You would have to be able to pull this to make the door move inward.

Someone can check the maths please

Ok. Next time I fly I’ll test your maths shall I?

 

[Quickstatus]

Next time I fly I’ll test your maths shall I?

It's only valid if done in a Low Cost Carrier

 

[TheRealTMA]

It's only valid if done in a Low Cost Carrier

On the way to an Indonesian island for example after a few top ups in the lounge?

 

[Quickstatus]

On the way to an Indonesian island

Depends if you wanna do a one of a kind trip report

 

[DC3]

A Jordanian national allegedly attempted to open a rear emergency door

 

[Melburnian1]

Man allegedly attempted to open plane door on flight to Sydney

Passengers and crew had to restrain a man from opening the doors of a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney on Saturday.

www.smh.com.au

SMH reporting this was on Air Asia X.

Yes, that was either a reporter's error or my assumption if was MH was incorrect.

Apologies.