A passenger flying for the first time deployed the aircraft slide on an Air China A319 after confusing the emergency exit door for the lavatory.
The incident occurred on July 4, 2024, flight CA2754 was preparing for departure from Quzhou Airport (JUZ) to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU).
It is believed that during this time, the passenger went looking for the aircraft lavatory, found the emergency exit door and opened it after thinking it was the toilet.
When the emergency slide deployed, all passengers had to exit the aircraft via the slide and the flight was eventually canceled.
As it was the last flight to Chengdu and the incident happened late in the evening, all passengers were booked into a hotel by the airline and were flown the following day. Passengers were also given compensation worth $55.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the passenger was in tears when she was told she would need to pay for damages.
The incident highlights the importance of the passenger safety briefing and being aware that, despite flying being a common mode of transport, some people are on board for the first time
