Man Arrested for Attempting to Open Plane Door Midflight

Earlier this month, a man was arrested for allegedly attempting to open the door of an airplane during a flight from Los Angeles to Australia.

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According to the Daily Telegraph, 49-year-old Manuel Gonzalez was on a flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Sydney Airport in Australia on Jan. 17 when he reportedly stood up and attempted to open the passenger door of the A380 Airbus.

At the time of the incident, the flight was 13 hours into the journey with another hour left to go. The plane was cruising at an altitude to 39,000 feet when Gonzalez attempted to open the door, and crew members sprang into action.

Not only did attendants return the man to his seat, but they also assigned four crew members to sit around him for the remainder of the trip to ensure he didn’t attempt to open the door again.

When the plane landed, the Australian Federal Police boarded the plane and arrested Gonzalez, who was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with recklessly performing an act that could endanger the safety of an aircraft.

If convicted, Gonzalez could face up to 10 years in prison. He has been denied bail and will remain in prison until his next court date on March 15. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions said the crime will be argued as an indictable offense.

“There are two ways to prosecute a criminal charge — summarily and by indictment,” criminal defense lawyer Kiki Kyriacou told the Daily Telegraph. “Matters dealt with as indictable are more serious offenses and are likely to attract more severe punishments including full-time jail sentences and in rare occasions the maximum penalties available.”

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