The incident happened Wednesday (June 24) but was revealed yesterday (June 26) by Klong Hoi Khong police in Hat Yai, reports Thai PBS.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Flight SA 8542 of Lion Air while the Boeing 737 plane was flying above Chumphon province at an altitude of 10,000 feet with 160 passengers and crew on board.
One male passenger rose to his feet, walked towards an emergency exit and tried to open it.
The event stirred panic among the horrified passengers. But three passengers who later identified themselves as police managed to overpower him and force him back to his seat and kept him under control.
As the plane landed safely at Hat Yai 30 minutes later, Klong Hoi Khong police were called to take the man into custody.
He was identified only as Amnart.
He told the police that he is a Phatthalung resident and worked as a mechanic.
Amnart admitted to trying to open the emergency exit door in a bid to commit suicide because he was deeply disappointed in love and hadn’t been able to sleep for the past four to five nights.
He said his attempt to end it all was not premeditated, and that the thought to open the emergency exit door only came to him while he was on the plane.
Police booked him for violating safety regulations and resisting the order of the pilot on an airborne plane.
See original story here.