Canadian man, 33, charged with trying to open aircraft emergency door during flight from Vancouver to Sydney

A man has been charged after allegedly trying to open an aircraft emergency door in the middle of an international flight from Vancouver to Sydney. The Canadian man, 33, has been charged with threatening the safety of an aircraft following the flight on May 14. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison or a $5000 fine, or both. Federal police allege about two hours into the 15.5 hour flight, a passenger saw the man trying to open an emergency exit door and pulled him away. Airline staff took man to a seat in the back of the plane and supervised him for the rest of the flight. “It will be alleged the man was intoxicated at the time of the incident,” an AFP spokesman said. When the plane touched down in Sydney, he was arrested and charged with an alleged breach of the Civil Aviation Act of threaten safety of aircraft. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Inspector Dom Stephenson says passengers should feel safe and not have to endure reckless behaviour while flying. “The AFP and our aviation partners have no tolerance for anti-social, violent or dangerous behaviour and we will take action,” he said. “Passengers expect to feel safe and should not have to witness or endure intoxication or reckless behaviour.” The man will face the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Monday.