Delta Passenger Opens Emergency Exit, Deploys Slide as Plane Taxis

March 27, 2023
A passenger opened an emergency exit and deployed an emergency slide on a Delta airliner taxiing at Los Angeles International Airport, California police told news outlets.

A passenger opened an emergency exit and deployed an emergency slide on a Delta airliner taxiing at Los Angeles International Airport, California police told news outlets.

The Seattle-bound plane had just left the gate when the incident took place at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 25, airport police told KNBC.

The Delta airliner returned to the gate and passengers deplaned to be put on another flight, KTLA reported.

Airport police arrested the passenger accused of opening the emergency exit, KABC reported. He was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation.

The FBI has been notified, police told KCBS.

In a statement to McClatchy News, Delta Airlines said the flight returned to the gate after an “unruly passenger” exited the plane and was detained by airline personnel. The airline also apologized to passengers for the “inconvenience and delay.”

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