Woman Tries to Open Aircraft Emergency Door

[Rhino]

Flight to Dallas Diverted After Passenger Attempts to Leave Through Emergency Door
Sunday, October 28, 2007

DALLAS — An American Airlines flight from Orlando, Fla., to Dallas-Fort Worth was diverted to Houston on Saturday night after a passenger tried to open an emergency door.

The passenger was unable to open the door and no one was injured....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305691,00.html

[DoctorDoom]

What if she succeeded? And is a failed attempt really news?

[Rhino]

She can't succeed. The doors are held in place by pressurization during flight. They can't be opened, unless it's at really low altitude.

[Phil Osophical]

The media didn't identify her which automatically means she was a sacred and protected minority of some kind. Probably a mischievous Muslim taunting and scaring the caca out of infidels aboard the airplane.

Oh well, whatever it takes to promote diversity, eh?

[The_Elucidator]

The media didn't identify her which automatically means she was a sacred and protected minority of some kind. Probably a mischievous Muslim taunting and scaring the caca out of infidels aboard the airplane.

Oh well, whatever it takes to promote diversity, eh?

You may be right, I haven't found a thing on this other than a little blurb by the AP posted on various sites. Hmmmmm:question:

[Venus de Smilo]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305691,00.html

Perhaps she thought there was a Darwin Award awaiting her on the other side of the door?

[DeclinetoState]

I read a story once about a senile old woman who wished to go out on the patio. Unfortunately, she was on an Amtrak train going 79 mph at the time.

Of course, all of this might be an urban legend.

[ThomasMore]

If the door is plug-type (nearly all overwing exits are), then as Rhino said, it is held closed by the airplane's pressurization.

Let's assume that the overwing exit's dimensions are 2.5 feet wide by 3.75 feet tall (it is probably larger than that). That's 30" x 45" = 1,350 square inches.

Most airliners pressurize to a little over 8 psid (pounds per square inch difference) at their maximum cruising altitude. As the airplane climbs from the surface, or descends to it, the pressurization ratio gradually adjusts.

If the airplane was pressurized near the max, or 8 psid, then the pressure holding the exit closed was 8 pounds/sq. in. x 1,350 sq. in. = 10,800 pounds. She would have to be one strong girl to overcome a 5.4 ton force.

Even if the airplane had just taken off, or was close to landing, and had only 1 psid pressurization, there was still over a half ton holding that exit closed.

Of course, these are only ballpark numbers.