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Date Published: 13/02/2025

Passenger jumps from plane bound for Spain moments before take-off

The man opened an aircraft door and slid onto the runway, delaying a Madrid-bound flight and leading to his arrest

A flight from Paris to Madrid was disrupted on February 12 when a passenger unexpectedly opened the aircraft’s emergency exit and jumped onto the runway just before take-off. The incident, which occurred around 6pm, surprised both crew members and fellow passengers, as reported by French newspaper La Dépêche.

The man, who was described as visibly distressed, had reportedly claimed to have personal connections with Iberia staff to facilitate his boarding. Once on board, he was moved to the rear of the plane under the supervision of a flight attendant.

However, he later attacked the crew member before managing to open the emergency exit door and deploy the emergency slide. He then leapt out of the aircraft, and ran across the runway, towards airport security lines. He was quickly intercepted by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (BGTA) and arrested on charges of “obstructing the movement of an aircraft”.

However, police custody was lifted soon after when police doctors determined the incident was due to “medical incompatibility”.

Following the disruption, some passengers were able to board an alternative flight later that night, but others had to wait until the following day to continue their journey.

Similar incidents have occurred in the past at international airports. In 2018, a passenger in China opened an emergency exit because he “felt hot” and was subsequently fined for interfering with flight operations. Another case in 2021 saw a man in the United States jump from a moving plane at Los Angeles Airport, leading to his arrest and a psychiatric evaluation.

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