When a passenger attempted to open the emergency door of Copa Airlines Flight CM204 from Brasília to Panama City in midair, a frightening situation occurred. On social networking site X, the footage of the anxious moment—which happened barely 30 minutes before landing—went viral.
With a plastic knife stolen from his food tray, the traveler hurried to the rear of the aircraft, demanding access to the emergency escape and trying to kidnap a flight attendant. This is when the mayhem started. A flight attendant’s early attempts to control the guy failed because of his power, according to Cristiano Carvalho, a photographer who saw and documented portions of the chaos. According to a New York Post article, the guy pushed ahead in his effort to reach the emergency entrance despite many warnings.
Chaos Among Passengers in Midair
The guy was subdued and pinned to the ground by the swift response of the passengers, averting a potentially disastrous situation. Military troops boarded the plane to arrest the passenger, who looked bloodied from the brawl, after the incident occurred early Tuesday and the plane landed in Panama City.
Copa Airlines stated in a statement after the incident that the passenger was taken off the aircraft and turned over to the police. The airline emphasized that established safety procedures were successfully executed and commended the crew and passengers for their fast thinking. A Copa Airlines representative said, “The flight and passengers’ safety was protected due to the professionalism of the crew.”
