Man who tried to open plane door on flight to Sydney charged

A Jordanian national allegedly attempted to open the doors of a Sydney-bound plane on Saturday evening and had to be restrained by crew and other passengers, forcing the airline to request police assistance on arrival.

Shadi Taiseer Alsaaydeh, 45, is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court charged with two counts of endangering the safety of an aircraft and one count of assaulting cabin crew.

Police will allege he initially tried to open the rear emergency exit door of an AirAsiaX flight travelling from Kuala Lumpur, prompting airline staff to escort him to a seat in the middle of the plane.

He then attempted to open the middle emergency exit door before crew and passengers forcibly prevented him from doing so, during which he allegedly assaulted an airline staff member.

Australian Federal Police officers met the flight on its arrival in Sydney.

Each of the offences Alsaaydeh is charged with carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Australian Federal Police detective acting superintendent Davina Copelin said dangerous behaviour on aircraft would not be tolerated.

“The actions of this man could have had tragic consequences, and passengers and airplane staff shouldn’t have to put up with unruly, violent or dangerous behaviour on flights,” Copelin said.

More to come.