Woman detained for activating plane's emergency slide in Beijing

A woman remains in custody after activating the emergency slide on a Xiamen Airlines flight this week, reports the Beijing News.

A plane parked at the Beijing Capital International Airport with its emergency slide ejected on June 12, 2017. [Photo: WeChat]

The incident took place on a flight from Beijing to Xiamen set to depart on June 12, 2017. 

Flight attendants were providing the traditional pre-flight safety demonstration on the flight, when the emergency door was activated.

Authorities say the woman did this right after the attendants warned the passengers not to do the exact thing which happened.

This forced the cancellation of the flight, forcing Xiamen Airlines to find alternate flights for the 112 other passengers onboard.

The woman, despite claims that she was just curious and didn't mean to pop the door, is likely going to be in significant trouble.

Beyond being detained for 12 days in jail, the woman is also likely to be hit with a hefty bill by Xiamen Airlines for her act.

Police officers detain a woman at the Beijing-Capital International Airport after she activated the emergency slide on her flight on June 12, 2017. [Photo: WeChat]

It's estimated that activating the emergency slide costs airlines about 100,000 yuan (about 14,700 USD) every time. If inflatable slide is damaged, the cost to replace it can reach 450,000 yuan.

Under China's Civil Aviation laws, the woman will be liable for any costs in the incident.

This is not the first time a passenger has been detained for activating the emergency facilities in China.

A similar incident took place in 2016 when a passenger arbitrarily opened the emergency exit on a flight out of Beijing as well, claiming that he "needed air."