Viral Video: Passenger Thrashed After He Tries To Open Emergency Door Mid-Air

Viral Video: A shocking incident unfolded on a Copa Airlines flight from Brazil to Panama when a passenger attempted to open the emergency door mid-air, leading to a violent confrontation with fellow passengers.

The incident occurred, about 30 minutes before landing, when the man—armed with a plastic knife from his food tray rushed to the back of the plane. He tried to take a flight attendant hostage, allegedly with the intention of opening the emergency exit.

A video of the chaotic scene, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), shows passengers restraining the man, while another clip later shows authorities boarding the aircraft and leading the bloodied individual away in handcuffs.

Watch the video: 

Photojournalist Cristiano Carvalho, who witnessed the event, described the tense moments as a flight attendant screamed for help. He explained that another crew member tried to stop the man but couldn't because of his strength. "He tried to open the emergency door after ignoring the warning," Carvalho said. "Then he started moving toward the front of the plane, trying again."

Realizing the danger, passengers quickly intervened. Although the man was initially too strong for them to control, they eventually overpowered him and restrained him after a violent struggle. Carvalho said the man was beaten so badly that he nearly lost consciousness.

Once the plane landed in Panama, the airline confirmed that the national security team boarded and removed the man, handing him over to local authorities.

Copa Airlines praised the actions of the crew and passengers, stating in a statement, "The crew acted quickly, and with the help of some passengers, applied the necessary safety protocols to handle the situation until we landed safely. Thanks to the professionalism of our team, the safety of the flight and passengers was maintained."

This disturbing event follows another incident earlier this week, when a man on a United Airlines flight in the U.S. violently attacked a deaf, nonverbal passenger while he was sleeping, leaving the cabin covered in blood. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Everett Chal Nelson, faces assault charges in the U.S. and could face up to a year in prison if convicted.