Asiana Airlines to stop selling some emergency exit seats following mid-air incident

Asiana Airlines has decided to stop selling some seats near emergency exits following the viral incident where a passenger opened the plane door mid-flight.

According to CNN International, the airline noted that such include number 26A on 174-seat A321s and number 31A in its models with 195 seats.

“This measure is a safety precaution and applies even if the flight is full,” an official statement by Asiana Airlines read.

The move comes after a passenger opened an emergency exit on an Asiana Airlines flight with almost 200 people onboard on Friday, May 26—while it was 200 meters (650 feet) above the ground.

According to a report by AFP, the viral incident affected certain passengers—some had breathing difficulties, while others had to be rushed to the hospital as soon as they landed at Daegu International Airport.

No major injuries or damages were reported, the airline said, adding that the man “has been taken to the police and is under questioning” to find out the motive behind his actions.

South Korean police said on Saturday, May 27 that the man admitted to being “under stress after losing a job recently.” He recalled feeling “suffocated” during the flight, which made him want to get off “quickly.”

The investigation of the case is still ongoing.