Saudia Passenger Restrained After Trying To Open Flight Door At Heathrow Airport, London

What should have been a standard arrival in London turned into something quite different on Thursday, 28 August. Saudia Airlines flight SV119, which had flown in from Jeddah, was already on the ground at Heathrow when a passenger suddenly tried to pull at one of the cabin doors.

Passenger Restrained After Door Scare On Saudia Flight At Heathrow Airport

بيان من #المركز_الوطني_لسلامة_النقل بشأن واقعة لطائرة “الخطوط السعودية” أثناء هبوطها في مطار هيثرو بلندن. pic.twitter.com/GBMVsCsvK0

— المركز الوطني لسلامة النقل (@NTSC_KSA) August 31, 2025

The incident occurred while the aircraft was still taxiing. According to Britain’s National Transport Safety Centre (NTSC), the man was believed to be suffering from a medical condition. Even so, his sudden move towards the door was enough to set nerves jangling among fellow travellers.

The cabin crew, clearly alert and trained for such scenarios, didn’t hesitate. They restrained him quickly and moved him away from the exit. Nobody on board was injured, but those few minutes certainly broke the calm that usually follows landing.

Why It Matters More Than It Looks

Now, technically speaking, it’s almost impossible to open an aircraft door when the plane is pressurised or even during taxi. But perception counts more than physics in moments like these. If you’re a passenger and you see someone tugging at a handle.

That’s exactly why crew training focuses on fast, visible responses. The NTSC put out a brief note on X afterwards, confirming the facts and pointing out that the airline was working with British authorities to go through the details. These joint reviews are standard, but they send a clear signal: any incident that involves passenger safety, however small, gets scrutinised. In practice, this was contained in minutes. 

What Happens Next

The NTSC hasn’t gone into depth about what will follow, other than confirming coordination with UK officials and the airline. That usually means speaking to staff, reviewing cabin CCTV, and making sure the passenger receives a medical evaluation. Whether legal steps are taken will likely depend on those findings.

For those on board, the incident concluded without disrupting their onward travel. The plane parked at its stand, and passengers disembarked.

Also Read: Saudia Announces Partnership With Delta Airlines; To Serve THESE Destinations In The US

A Strange End To A Routine Flight

Let’s face it, most travellers expect the post-landing wait to be boring: seat belts on, phones switched back on, maybe a little grumble about Heathrow queues. This time, there was something different to recount. A moment that looked dramatic ended calmly, and showed once again that safety drills are more than just box-ticking exercises.

Cover Image Courtesy: Saudia Airlines/ Facebook