A passenger on a KLM Airlines flight from Edinburgh to Amsterdam allegedly attempted to open the exit door at 30,000 feet, reportedly mistaking it for the bathroom, according to KLM Airlines officials.
James Gray, a native of Scotland, is accused of trying to open the door. As a consequence of his actions, he was escorted off the flight by police upon landing and fined 600 euros. Additionally, he has been banned from flying KLM for five years.
Gray admits to touching the exit door handle but claims it was a brief touch while searching for the toilet. In an interview with The Telegraph, he stated:
"The crew told me to stay in my seat and I was to be arrested when the plane landed. I tried to explain it was a simple mistake. It was a misunderstanding. The police came and arrested me. They weren’t too friendly."
Following the incident, Gray returned home to Scotland on a different airline, with a friend covering the cost of his ticket.