Passenger allegedly opens emergency exit door on taxiing plane, deploys slide at Atlanta airport: police

A flight departing from Atlanta was delayed Tuesday after an unruly commuter allegedly opened the jet s emergency exit door and deployed the inflatable slide while the plane was taxiing according to police The situation triggered a defense scare at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and prompted the Amsterdam-bound aircraft to return to the gate where officers boarded the plane Flight operated by KLM Airlines was then canceled out of safety concerns FOX Atlanta shared The Atlanta Police Department mentioned the tourist -year-old Johannes Van Heertum had called from inside the aircraft claiming he saw another traveler with a weapon Investigators declared Van Heertum seemed to have panicked and acted out forcing the aircraft to return to its ramp FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S COSTLY ERROR LEADS TO GROUNDING OF DELTA FLIGHT LONG COMMUTER DELAYSPolice disclosed Van Heertum appeared to be experiencing a mental robustness episode and was evaluated by EMTs before being taken into custody He was charged with reckless conduct criminal damage to property and interfering with prevention measures He was then transported to the Clayton County Jail without case and APD s Homeland Protection Unit was notified DETAILS SHOWS FLIGHT DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS RISING EVEN AS SHUTDOWN WINDS DOWNKLM disclosed that all remaining passengers were rebooked on the next available flights FOX added No weapons were discovered onboard Passengers reported the local outlet the situation unfolded hastily and was terrifying though no injuries were informed KLM Airlines did not at once respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital