This is the shocking moment a passenger opened a plane door while it was taking off in Thailand.

Candian tourist Wong Sai Heung, 40, said he experienced a panic attack and tried to disembark from the Airbus A320 as it was departing from Chiang Mai International Airport on Wednesday evening February 7.

Passengers had already boarded, the doors had been shut and a tractor had pushed the plane back off the apron - officially the start of the scheduled journey - and was seconds away from moving onto the runway.

But the tourist, a computer engineer, sparked alarm when he suddenly screamed, left his seat, and demanded the flight attendants open the plane door on Thai Airways flight TG121.

He allegedly ran towards the door behind the cockpit and pushed it open causing the slide to deploy while the plane was in the queue to join the runway.

Police officers stormed into the vehicle and arrested the holidaymaker. He was detained at the Phu Ping Ratchaniwet district police station.

Speaking in handcuffs shortly after the arrest, Wong said: 'I was very paranoid and had anxiety, it was the thing I had last time on the trip to Vietnam, but it's pretty much, the second big trip, but it was a big panic attack, I thought I was getting killed in that spot. I'm not doing well.'

Police said today that Wong Sai Heung was charged and held in custody. He was not under the influence of drink or drugs when he was arrested.

Lieutenant Colonel Nattawut Noisorn, deputy superintendent of Phu Ping Ratchaniwet Police Station, said: 'The inquiry officer has charged Wong Sai Heung with two offences.

'First, rendering an airplane to be in a condition likely to cause danger to a person, according to Section 232(1) of the Criminal Code.

'Second, violating or failing to comply with an order of the aircraft commander or that of crew members giving such order on behalf of the aircraft commander, which are orders for the maintenance of safety of the aircraft or persons or property on board, according to Section 7 Paragraph 2 of the Certain Offences against Air Navigation Act.'

The policeman said that officers are now also coordinating with the airport over any additional charges.

He added: 'The suspect may face further charges for aviation offences, which are currently being processed by the relevant organisations.

'Additionally, if the 13 airlines affected by the incident decide to file a report, he could face additional charges.'

The North American tourist's alleged outburst stopped the flight he was on and also disrupted other arriving flights, which had to wait in a holding pattern in the sky while departing planes were also delayed.

The other disgruntled passengers onboard the jet were taken to a hotel as they waited for their flight to Bangkok to be rescheduled.

One of the passengers, Watcharapon Pethsurp, said: 'A plane was about to take off but someone panicked and tried to open the door.

'As far as I know, at 9:45 PM, the plane was about to leave before there was a scream and then an announcement from a flight attendant saying that someone panicked and attempted to leave through the exit, causing it to slide open.

'The plane was unable to fly, and we had to wait for the mechanics to take it back to the pit stop.'

The flight was originally set to depart Chiang Mai at 9:05 pm and arrive at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok around an hour later.

Wing Commander Ronakorn Chalermsanyakorn, Director of Chiang Mai Airport, said the control tower reported to the airport that the plane was preparing for take-off when the door was opened.

He said: 'A passenger opened the plane door, causing the seat to slide and spread out, resulting in the aircraft being unable to fly and it was stuck in the middle of the runway, resulting in other flights being unable to take off and land at Chiang Mai Airport for a while.'

In a statement regarding the incident, state-owned Thai Airways - notorious for its corruption and mismanagement in recent years - said: 'Thai Airways would like to explain the incident on flight TG 121 route Chiang Mai - Bangkok on February 7 with Airbus A320 plane while lining up for take-off at the runway.

'There was a passenger who opened a plane door, prompting the mechanics to be sent for inspection and repair according to security standards.

'The flight was able to depart on February 8 at 12:34 am with all passengers, pilots, and flight attendants safely onboard.'