Teenager Jumps Out of Plane As it Lands

Image: PHOTO: Copa Airlines Boeing 737-8V3. (photo via Flickr/Tomas Del Coro)
Image: PHOTO: Copa Airlines Boeing 737-8V3. (photo via Flickr/Tomas Del Coro)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:53 AM ET, Wed August 2, 2017

Passengers on a flight to San Francisco were stunned when a 17-year-old boy opened an exit door on the plane and jumped onto the wing just minutes after it landed.

According to The Associated Press, witnesses claimed the teenager was in emotional distress during Copa Airlines Flight 208 from Panama City, Panama, to San Francisco when it landed in California Tuesday.

The teenager reportedly jumped out of his seat, opened the door, slid onto the wing and eventually jumped to the tarmac where he was confronted by an airfield construction crew working nearby. The workers held the boy until police arrived on the scene and placed him under arrest, according to San Francisco Airport spokesman Doug Yakel.

Other passengers said the teenager appeared to be anxious, and before anyone could stop him, he bolted toward the door and jumped out.

One of the witnesses, said the passengers sitting in the exit row where the boy jumped out started to scream: "They were yelling, 'Tell the flight attendants. Relay the message back. The door's open. Someone jumped off'. "It was pretty crazy."

[READMORE]READ MORE: Violent Passenger Tried Opening Exit Door In-flight[/READMORE]

Crew members onboard closed the door and the plane was taxied to the gate, where the remaining passengers got off without incident. The aircraft remained on the runway for about an hour, but no other flights were affected.


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Donald Wood

Donald Wood

Managing Editor

Donald Wood is TravelPulse’s Managing Editor, bringing nearly 15 years of experience to the desk. He currently lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

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