What happens when you mistake a plane exit door for a toilet entrance?
By Cahaya
@cahaya1983 (11116)
Malaysia
October 1, 2015 10:08pm CST
You get fined and banned from flying.
Well, at least one particular airline passenger did.
James Gray tried to open the exit door of a KLM Royal Dutch Airline aircraft when the plane was 30,000 feet in the air, thinking that it was the door to the lavatory.
He insisted that it was a mistake, but was arrested and taken away to a detention center after the plane landed, before he was fined 600 Euros. He was also banned from traveling with the airline for 5 years.
Well the law of physics wouldn't have made it possible for the door to be opened anyway.
But next time you're about to enter the restroom mid-flight, just make sure there's no "Exit" written anywhere on the door, please?
12 people like this
13 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Oct 15
On what grounds do you suggest that the door cannot be opened?
I can imagine the horror experienced by other passengers who saw him attempt to open the door. I have been on a couple of flights where there have been minor technical issues and the bulk of the passengers seemed absolutely horrified.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 Surely this has to be the other way round? If the pressure is high internally and low outside then the pressure is already pushing outwards on the door. You would need a higher pressure outside of the aircraft to hold the door closed.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Oct 15
The door can be opened only if the plane is depressurized. Under normal circumstances, when the internal cabin pressure is higher, it would be almost impossible for anyone to do that. But of course, I'm not suggesting it can never ever happen and I would be horrified too if I see anyone approaching the door, let alone touching the handle.
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Oct 15
@Asylum To open the door of the aircraft you have to pull it inward, though. The internal cabin pressure is pushing the door against the seal so to open the door is almost impossible for a normal person.
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
2 Oct 15
Was it the D.B Cooper case? Well in that particular case he got the pilot to depressurize the plane, that's why it was possible. When the internal cabin pressure is higher, it's almost impossible for a human to do that.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
2 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 No it was another case and it happened in Europe, I remember a passenger was almost sucked out when the door opened, but he was attached with the seat belt and the flight personnel were able to save him.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
@LadyDuck Oh I think I found the news about that incident. There were a few cases , in fact, but they were caused by explosive decompression or door design flaws, no one actually attempted to open the door.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
3 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 It could be that he was from sleep that's why his mind might still be floating .
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
I've no idea what he was thinking. It's pretty strange that such a mistake could happen especially when the two doors are completely different.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 15
@SIMPLYD I thought of that too but the news didn't seem to say anything about him being sleepy or drunk. Who knows.
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@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
7 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 If I will be the investigator I will not believe him too.
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@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Oct 15
Yeah it is pretty bizarre. How disoriented can someone be to mistake the two doors, right. 
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23660)
•
4 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 I agree that the airline have to be cautious ..However, I still wonder what the mans intentions really were.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 15
@sofssu Me too. Not sure if there's any latest news about him. The last one I read was about him being fined.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
Yeah it was a rather strange mistake though if you ask me. I guess what the airline did was understandable.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
9 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 So do I but I bet he never does that again.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
6 Oct 15
Exactly, the airline only did what they have to do since there's no way to know his real intentions. If it was a mistake though, I feel really sorry for that guy.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
2 Oct 15
I have been on a plane before. not sure how the man mistaken a exit door for a bathroom door. Both are clearly marked. Unless the man was blind, I don't see how he could make the mistake.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
I have no idea. Yeah they're marked and look completely different too. He said it was a mistake but the news didn't say what he was really thinking when he did that.
@allknowing (153529)
• India
2 Oct 15
Those around in the plane surely would have noticed it and brought it to his notice. Something fishy I see here.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
I'm not sure. I find it strange too. The news didn't say he was drunk or anything.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
6 Oct 15
a pretty dumb mistake but banning him from flying seems a bit over the top
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@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
7 Oct 15
Yeah, very strange mistake to make. He's banned from flying with them for 5 years, but after that experience I doubt he'll ever think about flying with that airline again anyway (if he flies at all).
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 15
It takes extraordinary strength to do that though. 
I read that most modern commercial aircraft have a certain mechanism that doesn't allow that to happen.
I read that most modern commercial aircraft have a certain mechanism that doesn't allow that to happen.
@xFiacre (14787)
• Ireland
2 Oct 15
I always keep an eye on passengers wondering about and I'd be right onto anyone straying too near a door! I disapprove of going to the toilet on a plane anyway. You should always go before you get on and don't eat or drink for two days before you fly.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
Those lavatories aren't the best places in the world, I agree. But not eat or drink for two days before flying?
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
3 Oct 15
I've been on a plane many times and yes the exit and lavatory doors look very different. I don't know if that guy slept and woke up confused an disoriented or something.
1 person likes this
