Did A Plane Door Open On An Airbus Flying From Bangkok To Hong Kong?

[Pimay1]

" ...causing an inrush of freezing air, along with a howling sound......."

Should I believe the witnesses or the internet experts?

The airplane is pressurized, so similar to a balloon, the air would escape quite quickly out of an airplane if a door was opened at high altitude. Google is our friend.

Balloons don't travel at 900km/h. If a leading edge of the door was cracked open, the pressure caused by speed would be greater than the cabin/external differential.

But that's just theory - I'll stick to the observed results (subject to verification that it's not all BS).

Have a look at this Mick.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19212_the-6-most-badass-airline-pilots-to-ever-stare-down-death.html

[oldsailor35]

The A380 doesn't have a curtain between business and economy ..... business is all upstairs and economy is all downstairs.

Not with all airline seating configurations !

[scotinsiam]

The A380 doesn't have a curtain between business and economy ..... business is all upstairs and economy is all downstairs.

Not with all airline seating configurations !

Emirates is Business upstairs on the A380 no economy

[kurtmartens]

The A380 doesn't have a curtain between business and economy ..... business is all upstairs and economy is all downstairs.

Not with all airline seating configurations !

Correct, except this was supposedly an EK flight and the EK A380 is all business and first upstairs and all economy downstairs. I only know this as I take this same flight Dubai/BKK (and then it goes onward to HK) about 6 or 8 times a year.

[OzMick]

" ...causing an inrush of freezing air, along with a howling sound......."

Should I believe the witnesses or the internet experts?

The airplane is pressurized, so similar to a balloon, the air would escape quite quickly out of an airplane if a door was opened at high altitude. Google is our friend.

Balloons don't travel at 900km/h. If a leading edge of the door was cracked open, the pressure caused by speed would be greater than the cabin/external differential.

But that's just theory - I'll stick to the observed results (subject to verification that it's not all BS).

Have a look at this Mick.

http://www.cracked.c...down-death.html

Have you seen "Flight" - now that was scary!

[oldsailor35]

Funny thing this...................I never get this problem with my Ultralight (Microlight) but then i always keep my seat belt tightly done up ! and never venture above 12000ft.

[Soi Sauce]

Maybe the journo was paid by Boeing.

[LindsayBKK]

An Airbus spokesman said: "It is not possible for a cabin door to open on an A380 or on any aircraft whilst in flight, as doors open inwards and have locking mechanisms."

Of course they would say that.... so maybe somebody should explain to us how it happened then.

[Pimay1]

Have you seen "Flight" - now that was scary!

Not yet. Just looked at the review. I'll see if my GF can find a pirated CD of it here in Udon

[scorecard]

If true, it's a brave cabin attednant who would stand at the door and stuff blankets into the gap.

Nah, she does it every week or so.

Do I supect a double meaning here or is it just my wayward mind?

[kjhbigv]

" ...causing an inrush of freezing air, along with a howling sound......."

Should I believe the witnesses or the internet experts?

Mick. i will try and clarify a bit. these aircraft would operate at around say 6 PSI differential, give or take. That is a higher pressure inside, so the cabin altitude is less than 10000 feet. All the worlds superheroes plus popeye would not budge that door when pressurised. Imagine the volume of air in a 380 at that diff. If there was anything preventing the seal doing its job properly there would be an air rush or squeal at worst. Air trying to get out not in. Even at 1 PSID you won't get the door open.

That may change if the aircraft depressurised. Best way to tell that will be all the masks dropping out.

If it was an explosion as stated in the linked article, there would be a mess and likely a hole. An explosive decompression signifies a structural failure. You may recall the Aloha Airlines 737 one in the 1980s. That's one of the reasons they always ask to keep your belt fastened, plus turbulence.

Absolutely correct.....it is impossible to open the door when the cabin is pressurised, it has to effectively be pulled in first, to open.....the door is like a plug and plugs the hole and the pressure difference makes it impossible to open.

The only time a door has opened was when a luggage hold door unlocked once and opened, this was because the cargo hold door is not like a plug in a hole but is pushed closed and levers hold it closed.

Like someone else said, it would be a faulty seal and the noise would be pressurised air forcing itself out the gap.

Edited February 16, 2013 by kjhbigv

[Crossy]

"Professional" opinons here http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/508125-emirates-a380-door-pops-flight.html

Popped and noisy door seal, no danger, but not pleasant for the passengers.

[Pimay1]

If true, it's a brave cabin attednant who would stand at the door and stuff blankets into the gap.

Nah, she does it every week or so.

Do I supect a double meaning here or is it just my wayward mind?

Bad boy

[Songhua]

Anybody reporting a compensation offer from the airline?

Only the guy who's missing.

[Ricardo]

Air Emirates

Perhaps the newspaper, which is an unmitigated 'rag' IMHO, should have said Emirates Airways, who do operate A380s on this route ?

But couldn't even get the name of the airline right ... 'nuff said.

[jamhar]

As I was told to get rid of my cigar and I couldn't open the windows, what else could I do

perfectly understandable. You had no other choice. Glad you were abe to save the cig

[Nisa]

Emergency Exit door opens in explosion on Emirates Airbus A380 ... Emergency Exit door in business class opened 3.8cms

http://www.perthnow....u-1226579347708

Terror at 27,000ft: Crew plug gap in super jumbo jet door with blankets and pillows stuck together with gaffer tape after it 'blows open' during the flight

http://www.dailymail...ays-Briton.html

Edited February 16, 2013 by Nisa

[peterbkk9]

Green is locked.

Door won't physically open due design and pressure differential.

Chances are it was just the door seal damaged or worn. Noisy, cold yes. Dangerous not really....

yes, correct. The plane was never in danger.

Edited February 16, 2013 by peterbkk9

[jamhar]

i'm not sure I'm willing to discount the reports so easiiy,

However i do find it suspicious that in this day and age,

theres no mobile vid, or ipad vid account of the event.

[kjhbigv]

"Professional" opinons here http://www.pprune.or...ops-flight.html

Popped and noisy door seal, no danger, but not pleasant for the passengers.

What worries me more in that report, is....

"'The stewardess jumped up and stared at the door. Her face was drained white.

'She ran up the aisle, grabbed the intercom and started screaming, “The door’s going to go, the door’s going to go!” Then she hid under her chair"

Jesus, I will never take any notice of a so called "trained" trolley dolly again!!

[Mosha]

Next they'll tell me there isn't a Santa. This is just a publicity seeking jerk.

[Bluespunk]

"Professional" opinons here http://www.pprune.or...ops-flight.html

Popped and noisy door seal, no danger, but not pleasant for the passengers.

What worries me more in that report, is....

"'The stewardess jumped up and stared at the door. Her face was drained white.

'She ran up the aisle, grabbed the intercom and started screaming, “The door’s going to go, the door’s going to go!” Then she hid under her chair"

Jesus, I will never take any notice of a so called "trained" trolley dolly again!!

Well apart from the fact the story is nonsense I did wonder how we were expected to believe anyone could hide under one of those seats. They're hardly spacious.

[marstons]

All the Emirates A380's I have flown on have business and first top deck and economy lower deck, so don't see how closing curtains would prevent economy seeing what's going on upstairs. Pilots would have been aware if doors not locked also, unless door and electronics were both faulty and crew missed in when closing and cross checking. no don't believe it.

[55Jay]

"Professional" opinons here http://www.pprune.or...ops-flight.html

Popped and noisy door seal, no danger, but not pleasant for the passengers.

Yep, gotta love PPRune.

[marstons]

The A380 doesn't have a curtain between business and economy ..... business is all upstairs and economy is all downstairs.

Not with all airline seating configurations !

But the OP states Emirates A380 http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Emirates_Airlines/Emirates_Airlines_Airbus_A380.php economy downstairs. Flown on that route on Emirates A380 few times so its not possible.

[Bpuumike]

Air would not run into an airplane at high altitude, all air would get sucked out resulting in decompression.

Air would get sucked out! Passengers too whether already frozen to death or not.

[Phatcharanan]

I wonder if some of these passengers were Boeing employees?

[geriatrickid]

Green is locked.

Door won't physically open due design and pressure differential.

Chances are it was just the door seal damaged or worn. Noisy, cold yes. Dangerous not really....

Shhh. Causing some people to read up on pressure and what it is, detracts from a fabulous conspiracy option.

This might have been a momentous milestone in physics when all of the established principles and laws were proven false. I shake my finger at you for trying to squash nonsensical notions with your reasoned and logical approach. You must be very boring in the event of crisis, probably remaining calm and not running about screaming in panic.

[Greer]

Air Emirates

Perhaps the newspaper, which is an unmitigated 'rag' IMHO, should have said Emirates Airways, who do operate A380s on this route ?

But couldn't even get the name of the airline right ... 'nuff said.

Actually I tried to look for flights BKK/HKG and the ones I found went via Dubai, for over 120,000 baht economy class... unless they have a very limited number of flights per week that do fly that route - but I didn't find it, and the only version of the route map I could see didn't show it, of course it may have been out of date.

As someone else stated, both versions of the A380 that EK use are configured for all Business and First class on the upper deck, and economy on the lower deck.

[Greer]

"Professional" opinons here http://www.pprune.or...ops-flight.html

Popped and noisy door seal, no danger, but not pleasant for the passengers.

What worries me more in that report, is....

"'The stewardess jumped up and stared at the door. Her face was drained white.

'She ran up the aisle, grabbed the intercom and started screaming, "The door's going to go, the door's going to go!" Then she hid under her chair"

Jesus, I will never take any notice of a so called "trained" trolley dolly again!!

Well apart from the fact the story is nonsense I did wonder how we were expected to believe anyone could hide under one of those seats. They're hardly spacious.

Yes, utter rubbish! My ex-girlfriend worked as cabin crew on EK, and I know they all went through a lot of training, and re-certification every year - a crewmember is unlikely to get on the PA and tell the passengers something like that - she would get on the intercom and notify the flight crew, or her superior, and would not "hide under the seat" (impossible in any case), but would get everyone strapped into seats immediately, including herself when the passengers were safe.