A Jordanian man, Shadi Taiseer Alsaaydeh, was arrested and charged Saturday after trying to open an emergency exit door mid-flight on an AirAsia X plane bound for Sydney from Kuala Lumpur.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, an alarming incident occurred on flight D7220. The situation began when Alsaaydeh first attempted to reach the rear exit. The cabin crew and passengers intervened, but he ended up assaulting a staff member. After being moved to a middle seat, he allegedly tried to access another exit, prompting the crew’s swift response.
A passenger on an AirAsia X flight to Sydney allegedly had to be restrained by crew after attempting to open two separate emergency exit doors mid-flight. #aviation #aerospacehttps://t.co/tF8wocedzX pic.twitter.com/1D1sKiwZKS
— Australian Aviation (@ausaviation) April 7, 2025The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged Alsaaydeh with two counts of endangering aircraft safety and one count of assaulting crew members. “This situation could have ended in tragedy,” said Detective Acting Superintendent Davina Copelin from the AFP. “Unruly behaviour on flights will not be tolerated, especially when it puts lives at risk.” AirAsia commended its crew’s response, emphasizing that safety was maintained. “We immediately notified the AFP, as our zero-tolerance policy remains in effect,” the airline stated, deferring further comments to the authorities.
Jordanian man charged over attempt to open doors of plane mid-flight https://t.co/wHSLmIhyxh pic.twitter.com/2elGTyALBC
— The Independent (@Independent) April 6, 2025Alsaaydeh’s lawyer informed the court that his client, a Jordanian nuclear waste manager with no prior criminal record, experienced a blackout after combining pseudoephedrine, a sleeping pill, and alcohol before his flight. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. This incident highlights the critical importance of flight safety.
