Crew member assaulted and emergency slide triggered as security intervenes at London airport.
London, August 28 — A Saudia Airlines Boeing 787-10 was disrupted at London Heathrow Airport on Wednesday when a passenger assaulted a crew member and triggered the deployment of an emergency evacuation slide, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred while Flight SV120, bound for Jeddah, was taxiing for departure. The aircraft, registered HZ-AR27, was halted after the individual punched a cabin crew member and opened the 1R passenger door, which automatically deployed the emergency slide.
Emergency responders quickly surrounded the aircraft, and Heathrow security teams boarded the plane to remove and arrest the unruly passenger. No other passengers or crew members were reported injured.
As a result of the disturbance, the flight was delayed for nearly four hours before eventually departing for Saudi Arabia.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the passenger or confirmed what charges they may face. Saudia Airlines has not issued a public statement, but industry observers note that opening an aircraft door during taxiing is a serious safety violation that typically results in criminal prosecution and potential airline bans.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns across the aviation industry about disruptive passenger behavior, which can endanger safety and cause major operational delays.
