A woman opened the emergency exit door and jumped out of a plane as it was taxiing down a runway in Houston, startling passengers on board.
The United Airlines flight had just landed in Houston from New Orleans and was headed toward its gate at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport when the incident happened Monday afternoon, said airline spokeswoman Maddie King.
“I realized when the door popped open and a woman stepped out of it,” passenger Hampton Friedman told CNN. He was sitting across the aisle and posted a short video of the open door.
The woman, who was not identified, was treated for non-life threatening injuries. She was not charged, but taken for a psychological evaluation, said CNN affiliate KHOU.
“I’ve flown all over the world and I’ve been on lots of really long flights and I’ve never experienced anything like this,” another passenger, Cathy Cole, told the affiliate. “I have no earthly idea why she would want to do that.” The woman survived the huge fall but had to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. She was not charged with any crime.
Passenger Hampton Friedman told CNN: ‘I realised when the door popped open and a woman stepped out of it.’
The aircraft had just landed at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston when the woman decided she had enough.
We landed and waited for gate to open up as we were 30 min early. A lady opened emergency exit door which she was seated next to and jumped off plane. Ran to terminal.We stopped short of gate waiting and she got the exit door open and jumped off onto tarmac! Several people said we have a runner before we knew door was open! Jeez! Sitting in plane with sister and all passengers. Waiting for police and FAA to board.
Now it turns out she was in NO at United desk. Paying cash to get on this flight. She sat in isle 1 row in front and across from me. She got up, supposedly to restroom and never came back but sat in emergency exit next to door. When plane stopped she opened door and jumped. I assume apprehended but plane was search and a few people were detained as witnesses. Holy shamoly! Exciting end to a great trip to NOLA!
