[noiseman]

Every now and then we get one of these “passenger trying to open the cabin door mid-flight” stories. It is inevitably followed by comments from nervous flyers who think that it was only by some miracle that disaster was averted.

Of course, the immense pressure holding the door closed makes it impossible to open the door (D.B. Cooper was a unique event because of his planning and the 727’s rear airstair). I think they should just let these idiots keep trying to open the door, because eventually they’ll wear themselves out and maybe be more compliant when they go to restrain them.

[Steely Tom]

Of course, the immense pressure holding the door closed makes it impossible to open the door (D.B. Cooper was a unique event because of his planning and the 727’s rear airstair). I think they should just let these idiots keep trying to open the door, because eventually they’ll wear themselves out and maybe be more compliant when they go to restrain them.

Gee, I never thought of that!

I knew that cabin doors were designed so that the cabin pressure keeps them closed, but that raises another question: in the 727, how in the word did they keep that enormous door for the rear stair closed against cabin pressure when at high altitude? The door was much bigger than a typical cabin door, and it was obviously openable in flight, as proven by ol' D.B.

I wonder how they managed that? Must have been some pretty clever mechanical engineering.