US passenger opens plane door and walks on wing as jet taxis

Man slides down the wing of United Airlines jet and attempts to guide aircraft into gate

A United Airlines plane at Washington Dulles International Airport. A man has been arrested after opening an emergency exit of a jet operated by the airline and walking on to the wing as it taxied. AFShow more

A man has been arrested after opening an emergency exit of a United Airlines jet and walking on to a wing as the plane taxied on the runway.

The man then slid down the wing on to the apron before attempting to guide the aircraft into the gate at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on Thursday, AP reported.

Chicago police said the passenger on Flight 2478 was arrested and taken into custody.

The 57 year old from Escondido, California, has been charged with reckless conduct.

Police said the incident happened at about 4.31am when the jet was approaching the gate at Terminal 1.

The airline said members of its crew stopped the passenger outside the plane, which taxied to an airport gate to let other passengers exit.

“A male subject was on board a plane that was approaching the gate when he pulled the emergency exit and walked out on to the wing of the plane,” CNN reported Chicago police as saying.

“The subject then slid down the wing and on to the airfield." The airline said police then arrived and "placed him into custody. Charges are pending.”

When the plane arrived at the gate, all passengers left the aircraft safely, a statement from the airline said.

“This morning United flight 2478 was taxiing towards the gate at Chicago O’Hare when a passenger opened an aircraft door and exited the plane,” the statement said.

“Our ground crew stopped the individual outside of the aircraft, and the person is now with law enforcement. The plane then arrived at the gate and all passengers deplaned safely. The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority.”