A passenger on a Copa Airlines flight from Brazil to Panama caused a disturbance mid-flight, attempting to open the emergency door. The incident, which was captured on video, shows the passenger being restrained by both crew and fellow passengers. The video has since gone viral.
Cristiano Carvalho, a 51-year-old photojournalist who was on the flight, recorded the chaotic scene. He described how a flight attendant tried to hold the passenger back but was unable to due to his strength. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning on Copa Airlines flight CM204 from Brasilia to Panama City.
According to Carvalho, the flight was uneventful until 30 minutes before landing. The passenger, armed with a plastic knife from his food tray, rushed to the back of the plane and attempted to take a flight attendant hostage with the intention of opening the plane door.
Carvalho recalled how the passenger ignored warnings and tried to open the emergency door. This prompted other passengers to intervene and prevent the man from opening the door. Despite the man’s strength, the passengers managed to restrain him.
Copa Airlines representatives praised the quick action of the crew and passengers. They stated that the necessary safety protocols were applied to control the situation until landing in Panama. The representatives also noted that the professionalism of the crew ensured the safety of the flight and passengers.
Upon landing in Panama, the national security team boarded the aircraft and removed the passenger, handing him over to judicial authorities. Photos taken after landing show the passenger, who was visibly injured, being escorted off the plane in handcuffs.
Copa Airlines has since commended both crew members and passengers for their collective effort in handling 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.