On May 11, a passenger aboard China Eastern Airlines flight MU5828 opened the aircraft's emergency exit after it landed at Kunming Changshui International Airport.

According to other passengers on the flight, the situation on board remained orderly, and there were no injuries. “Disembarkation was delayed by about 20 minutes. Everyone was safe—it was more of a minor incident,” one passenger said.

The airline confirmed that the person who opened the emergency exit was a young man. His motive remains unclear, but it is suspected to be either out of curiosity or accidental. The individual has since been taken into custody by police for investigation.

Some internet users expressed concern about the potential consequences if the exit had been opened mid-flight. However, veteran pilot Chen Jianguo clarified that the exit in question was located over the wing and cannot be opened while the aircraft is in the air. “It has an automatic locking mechanism,” he explained.

Chen noted that the over-wing emergency exit remains locked during flight if *any* of the following conditions are met: three out of four main doors are closed, at least one engine is running, or the aircraft’s flight control system registers that it is airborne or the thrust levers are advanced. The exit can only be unlocked when none of these conditions are met and there is no DC electrical power.

According to China’s Regulations on Civil Aviation Security, passengers are strictly prohibited from tampering with aircraft equipment during flight. Violators may face fines, administrative detention of 10 to 15 days, or even criminal prosecution. In severe cases involving threats to public safety, penalties can include up to 10 years in prison.

As of now, police at Kunming Changshui Airport have not released the results of their investigation, and China Eastern Airlines has not issued an official statement.