Chaos ensues after airline passenger forces open plane door mid-flight: 'I thought the plane was going to explode'



A passenger aboard an Asiana Airlines flight from Jeju Island to the South Korean city of Daegu was apparently in a rush to deplane, opening the door just minutes before landing.

A 33-year-old male seated next to an emergency exit reportedly forced open the door on an Airbus A321-200, which was carrying 194 souls including 48 primary and middle school children on their way to a sporting event.

When the door was opened, the plane was roughly 700 feet off the ground and traveling about 170 mph, reported Reuters.

Baek Hyunwoo, a spokesman for the airline, indicated the feat would normally be impossible owing to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the cabin; however, at the lower altitude, there was only a slight difference in air pressure.

Since the plane was descending, the flight attendants were reportedly buckled up and seated too far away to make a swift intervention.

Footage of the incident taken by another passenger shows strapped-down passengers holding on for dear life, with daylight and powerful gusts flooding the cabin.

\u201cMan arrested after opening door as plane prepared to land in South Korea, 9 people taken to hospital - Yonhap\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1685087257

Another video of the incident shows the plane door ajar and various garments flapping in the wind.

\u201cDoor of Asiana Airlines plane opens in mid-air just before landing in South Korea; 9 people taken to hospital with breathing difficulties\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1685080680

According to Sky News, some passengers suffered extreme ear pain after the door was opened.

One 44-year-old passenger told the Yonhap News Agency, "I thought the plane was going to explode. ... It looked like passengers next to the open door were fainting."

The mother of one of the schoolchildren aboard the plane said, "The children were shaking, crying, and frightened. Those sitting near the exit must have been shocked the most."

Despite the open door, the plane managed to land safely. There were no casualties.

Twelve people, all but one of whom were between the ages of 11 and 16, reportedly hyperventilated. Nine were taken to a hospital.

Kim Hyeong-su, an officer in the criminal affairs division of the Daegu Dongbu Police Station, indicated the man accused of opening the door could face charges of violating aviation security laws, reported the New York Times.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Video: Residents told to shelter in place after Norfolk Southern cargo train derails in Springfield, Ohio



A cargo train derailed on Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Ohio. The train is reportedly owned by Norfolk Southern, which is the same railroad company involved in the disastrous train derailment in East Palestine on Feb. 3.

Around 5 p.m. on Saturday, a Norfolk Southern train with 212 cars derailed and sent between 20 and 30 cars off the tracks near State Route 41.

Sgt. David Slanker of the Springfield Post of Ohio State Highway Patrol told WCPO-TV, "There are a lot of cars that are derailed and we’re investigating right now to determine what they contain, and if any are leaking."

Slanker was not sure if there were tanker cars involved in the derailment. He said there is no hazard notice for the community at the moment, but did say that hazmat crews were at the crash site.

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson told WDTN that there was no hazardous materials involved in the crash.

The Springfield Post of Ohio State Highway Patrol, Springfield Township Fire Department, and Springfield Police Division responded to the emergency.

There were no injuries reported.

The derailment knocked down several power lines, which caused power outages in the area.

The Clark County Emergency Management Agency advised residents within 1,000 feet of the derailment to shelter in place "out of an abundance of caution." The agency also asked local residents to avoid any travel near the area of the derailment.

Onlookers shared purported videos of the Springfield train derailment on social media, including the exact moment that the cars ran off the tracks.

\u201cWitness video shows the moment a cargo train starts to derail in Springfield, Ohio. Still unknown what the train was carrying\u201d
— BNO News Live (@BNO News Live) 1677974074


\u201cAnother train derailment, this time in Springfield Ohio. My parents took this video an hour ago.\u201d
— Braedon Phillips (@Braedon Phillips) 1677973193

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with any new details.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Seoul stampede of terror: At least 146 dead, another 150 injured after being crushed during Halloween festivities in South Korea



Halloween festivities held in South Korea spiraled into pure terror on Saturday night. A stampede disaster killed at least 146 people and injured another 150 in the South Korean capital of Seoul.

Revelers flocked to Seoul's entertainment district of Itaewon for Halloween festivities. The Halloween celebration attracted approximately 100,000 to the streets – which is believed to be the biggest in South Korea since the country recently eased its COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the merriment quickly turned into tragedy as young people reportedly rushed to see an unidentified celebrity at a nearby bar. Hundreds of partygoers poured into a narrow alley near the Hamilton Hotel. The massive influx of people caused many to fall to the ground and get crushed.

(WARNING: Graphic video)

\u201cItaewon, Seoul. EMTs try to rescue victims of massive overcrowding at a Halloween event. Horrific.\u201d
— Ian Miles Cheong (@Ian Miles Cheong) 1667062062

The grisly aftermath shows lifeless bodies strewn on the pavement covered by blue blankets. Some unconscious people are seen getting CPR to try to save their lives. South Korean officials say approximately 50 people suffered from cardiac arrest.

There were so many dead bodies that they had to be transported to a nearby gymnasium for identification.

Roughly 850 emergency workers and police officers from around South Korea rushed to Seoul to treat the victims. Dozens of emergency vehicles were spotted at the chaotic scene.

\u201cOfficials in Seoul said that at least 120 people were dead and 100 others were injured after a stampede in the South Korean capital's popular Itaewon district, where crowds had gathered to celebrate Halloween. https://t.co/auJuczo3Ll\u201d
— The New York Times (@The New York Times) 1667068247


\u201cVideo shows many people receiving CPR after stampede at Halloween party in Itaewon, Seoul; number of victims not yet known\n\n\u26a0\ufe0f: Viewer discretion is advised\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1667059149

The Daily Mail reported that there were 146 dead and 150 injured from the deadly Seoul stampede.

Choi Seong-beom – chief of Seoul’s Yongsan fire department – said the death toll could rise because there are an unspecified number of victims in critical condition.

Michelle Ye Hee – Washington Post'sTokyo/Seoul bureau chief – wrote on Twitter, "There are still so many unidentified bodies and possibly even more casualties from Itaewon. Seoul city is compiling a roster of people calling in to ask about their missing loved ones. It's 4:25 a.m., and the investigation and the identification of bodies is only just beginning."

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the health ministry to immediately deploy disaster medical assistance teams and secure beds in nearby hospitals to treat the injured. He also demanded a review of the safety issues of the Halloween festivities.

\u201cWARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT \u2013 A stampede in South Korea left at least 120 people dead after a crowd poured into an alley in a night-life area of Seoul for Halloween festivities https://t.co/0ZIX4goo8F\u201d
— Reuters (@Reuters) 1667070600


Video: Chaotic scene unfolds as frenzied crowd flees when gunfire erupts near Ohio high school football game, 3 people shot



The terrified crowd at a high school football game in Ohio are seen on video scrambling for safety when gunfire erupts.

During the fourth quarter of the football game between Whitmer High School and Central Catholic, gunshots rang out into the air. The alarmed audience, players, referees, the marching band, and high school students frantically attempted to take cover from the shooting.

Video shared by WTOL sports director Jordan Strack shows a man on the ground shielding a young child from the shooting. Others are huddled behind a barrier to protect themselves from the gunfire.

\u201cThis was the scene at the Central Catholic-Whitmer game when shots were fired outside the stadium. We've confirmed that 3 people have been shot. Conditions are still unknown. A really scary scene.\u201d
— Jordan Strack (@Jordan Strack) 1665197752

WTOL reported, "More than 12 gunshots were heard at the southwest corner stadium near the main entrance during the game and people in the stands were seen fleeing. Several bullet casings were seen scattered on the ground behind the field house."

The shooting – which happened around 9:30 p.m. on Friday – took place outside of the Whitmer High School football stadium, but gunshots were clearly heard during the broadcast of the game.

\u201cBREAKING: Gunfire erupts during high school football game in Toledo, Ohio. At least 3 victims\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1665196167

Washington Local Schools spokesperson Katie Peters said a Whitmer High School student and two adults – one male, one female – were shot on Friday night outside the football stadium.

They were transported to a local hospital for their injuries, that police say are non-life-threatening.

The Toledo Police Department said two people are in custody in connection with the shooting, and that two other individuals could be linked to the incident.

"No guests were injured in the evacuation and we could not be prouder of our students, staff, Whitmer fans, and our guests from Central Catholic," Peters said.

Washington Local Schools Superintendent Kadee Anstadt released a statement regarding the shooting, according to WTVG.

"We are deeply saddened that a fun rivalry tonight was disrupted by an act of violence in the streets surrounding our event," Anstadt said. "What we know at this time is limited, and we will not speculate until further details are known. An event like this is every school district's worst nightmare, and we ask that you keep both Central and Whitmer in your thoughts as we attempt to figure out this atrocious act."

The game between Whitmer High School and Central Catholic High School was ended prematurely with six minutes left to play. The game will not be finished – giving Central Catholic a 46-16 win.

Kevin Parkins – head of Central Catholic High School – said junior varsity and freshman football games for Saturday are canceled.

Parkins added that the Central Catholic student body will gather on Tuesday to "talk to them, support them, but also pray."

Video shows moment key bridge connecting Crimea and Russia is rocked by massive explosion, Ukraine official declares bombing is just 'the beginning'



A surveillance camera captured video of the moment that a bomb detonated and blew up a large portion of a key bridge connecting Crimea with Russia. A Ukraine official vowed that the huge explosion is only "the beginning."

At sunrise on Saturday, a massive explosion destroyed part of the Kerch Bridge – a 12-mile road and rail bridge that links Crimea and Russia. Part of the bridge collapsed into the Kerch Strait. Russian authorities said three people were killed in the blast.

\u201cThe security camera footage of the explosion on the Crimean Bridge.\u201d
— Oleksiy Sorokin (@Oleksiy Sorokin) 1665212401


\u201cWATCH: The Crimean Bridge, which connects Russia and Crimea, is on fire and has partially collapsed\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1665204360
\u201cA new video published online shows significant damage inflicted on the Crimean Bridge following reported explosions in the early morning of Oct. 8.\n\nThe illegally constructed bridge links the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula Crimea with mainland Russia via the Kerch Strait.\u201d
— The Kyiv Independent (@The Kyiv Independent) 1665216602


Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated, "At 06:07 Moscow time today, an explosion was set off at a cargo vehicle on the motorway part of the Crimean bridge on the side of the Taman peninsula, which set fire to seven fuel tanks of a train that was en route to the Crimean peninsula. Two motorway sections of the bridge partially collapsed."

Sergey Aksenov – the Russian-appointed Head of Crimea – confirmed that “two spans of the roadbed of the part [of the bridge] from Krasnodar to Kerch, collapsed."

"Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said that a truck bomb caused seven railway cars carrying fuel to catch fire, resulting in a 'partial collapse of two sections of the bridge,'" the Associated Press reported.

Vladimir Putin ordered a “government commission” to investigate the Kerch Bridge “emergency," according to Russian state media TASS.

Mykhailo Podolyak – an adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky – did not directly take responsibility for the explosion, but said it was just "the beginning."

"Crimea, the bridge, the beginning. Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled," Podolyak said on Saturday.

The official Twitter account for the government of Ukraine simply wrote, "Sick burn."

David Arakhamia – leader of the Servant of the People party in Ukraine – wrote on Telegram, "Russian illegal construction is starting to fall apart and catch fire. The reason is simple: if you build something explosive, then sooner or later it will explode. And this is just the beginning. Of all things, reliable construction is not something Russia is particularly famous for."

Oleksiy Danilov – the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council – posted a video of the Crimea Bridge on fire next to the 1962 video of Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday Mr. President." Vladimir Putin turned 70 years old on Friday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared, "The reaction of the Kyiv regime to the destruction of civilian infrastructure shows its terrorist nature."

The Kerch Bridge – also known as the Kerch Strait Bridge and the Crimean Bridge – is the longest in Europe and was opened by Vladimir Putin in 2018. The $3.7 billion bridge crosses over the Kerch Strait – which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. The Kerch Bridge links Russia's Krasnodar region with the Crimean Peninsula – which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.

The Crimean Bridge can reportedly handle 40,000 cars a day and 14 million passengers, plus 13 million tons of cargo per year. The bridge gives Russia access to important Ukrainian ports such as Sevastopol, and is a critical supply route to transport fuel, goods, and military weapons into Crimea. At the time of completion, Russian media hailed the bridge as "the construction of the century."

In 2021, Russian National Guard Chief Viktor Zolotov said, "The facilities of the Kerch transport link are today comprehensively protected on the ground, from the air and from the water and under the water."

Famed author Salman Rushdie attacked in New York, stabbed in neck as he was set to deliver lecture



Famed British-Indian author Salman Rushdie was attacked in western New York on Friday as he was about to give a lecture.

Witnesses saw a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and assault Rushdie as he was being introduced, the Associated Press reported. The 75-year-old author was reportedly stabbed several times and fell to the floor. The assailant was restrained and taken into custody.

Bystanders rushed to the author's aide and held up his legs, presumably to send more blood to his chest, the AP reported.

Hundreds of people in the audience watched in horror during the attack and were then evacuated from the scene.

Rushdie was flown to a hospital. His condition is unknown.

\u201cSalman Rushdie, who was stabbed at an event in New York, is being flown to hospital. No word on his condition\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1660320074

New York State Police said Rushdie suffered a "stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital."

\u201cUPDATE - Rushdie has suffered a "stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital."\u201d
— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1660317694

"On August 12, 2022, at about 11 a.m., a male suspect ran up onto the stage and attacked Rushdie and an interviewer. Rushdie suffered an apparent stab wound to the neck, and was transported by helicopter to an area hospital. His condition is not yet known," New York State Police Major Eugene Staniszewski said in a statement.

"The interviewer suffered a minor head injury. A State Trooper assigned to the event immediately took the suspect into custody. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene," Staniszewski added.

Rushdie's novel, "The Satanic Verses," is highly controversial among Muslims, as some consider it to be blasphemous. In 1988, Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie and his publishers.

Iran has offered a bounty of over $3 million to anyone who kills Rushdie.

Though the Iranian government has since distanced itself from Khomeini's edict, the fatwa is still in effect to this day. Iranian leadership insists only the person who issued a fatwa may withdraw it, according to journalist Yashar Ali. Khomeini has been dead for more than 30 years.

\u201cNo idea what the motive is here, but everyone should remember that the bounty on Salman Rushdie\u2019s head from the Iranian government remains active and the Twitter account of Iran\u2019s supreme leader was locked a few years ago for reminding people of that.\u201d
— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1660316987
\u201cThe Iranian government largely walked away from it for many years but the Supreme Leader reignited it when he tweeted about it. \n\nThe government will say only the person who issued the fatwa can withdraw it. \n\nThat person, the Ayatollah Khomeini, has been dead for over 30 years.\u201d
— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1660318892

In 2012, an Iranian religious foundation raised the bounty on Rushdie's head from $2.8 million to $3.3 million.

Rushdie downplayed the threat at the time, saying there was "no evidence" anyone was interested in claiming the reward.

That same year, Rushdie published a memoir, "Joseph Anton," about the fatwa. The title was taken from the pseudonym he had used while in hiding.

The Chautauqua Institution, located about 55 miles southwest of Buffalo in a rural part of New York, is known for its summertime lecture series, the AP reports. Rushdie has given lectures there before.

Japan's former prime minister reportedly shot during campaign speech



Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was reportedly shot during a campaign speech and collapsed.

The report was first made by Japanese broadcaster NHK who had a reporter at the speech in Nara City at about 11:30 a.m. local time.

The reporter said Abe collapsed during the speech and something like a gunshot was heard at about the same time. Abe is said to have been hospitalized with heart failure.

Other reports said he was attacked from behind and that a suspect was detained.

Videos on social media reportedly showed the scene after the attack.

\u201cBREAKING:\nFormer Japanese premier Shinzo Abe has been shot and injured, received bullet(s) in chest, being rushed to hospital in Nara city. He had just delivered a speech there\u201d
— \u062e\u0627\u0644\u062f (@\u062e\u0627\u0644\u062f) 1657249042

Another showed bystanders rushing in to help.

\u201cWATCH: Bystanders rush to help former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after he is shot\nhttps://t.co/vgk7fn323p\u201d
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1657249766

NBC News said a producer in Japan reported that the former prime minister's condition was unknown.

Abe was giving campaign speeches ahead of elections in Japan. The longest serving prime minister in Japanese history, he resigned from his office in 2020.

This is a developing story and updates will be added.

Here's one video report about the stunning incident:

LIVE: Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Shot During Speech In Nara; One Suspect Detainedwww.youtube.com

Report: Sky News reporter ambushed and shot by Russian troops while covering Ukraine invasion



A Sky News correspondent was shot while covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to reports.

What are the details?

Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsey said that Russian attackers fired on him and his team as they tried to leave the Kyiv area on Monday.

According to a report from the New York Post, Ramsey said that he and his team of five heard an explosion and felt a tire on the vehicle they were traveling in begin to pop and sag.

As the vehicle rolled to a stop, he said, bullets began raining down on the vehicle's windshield, forcing the team to cower in fear.

"We were under full attack," he said. "Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel and dashboard had disintegrated. It was professional, the rounds kept smashing into the car — they didn't miss."

Ramsey said that he and his team screamed that they were journalists, but the bullets kept on coming.

The report added that Ramsey attempted to flee from the vehicle, and began running toward a nearby embankment for shelter when he was struck in his lower back by a bullet.

One of Ramsey's camera operators, too, was struck by gunfire.

"Our world turned upside down," Ramsey said of the incident. "I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful."

Ramsey said that he and his team were able to make it to the embankment despite the injuries and were able to gain entry to a nearby building where they awaited rescue.

"The five of us were alive," he recalled. "We couldn't believe it."

Ramsey added, "We were very lucky. But thousands of Ukrainians are dying, and families are being targeted by Russian hit squads just as we were, driving along in a family saloon and attacked. This war gets worse by the day.”

WATCH: Sky News reporters ambushed near Kyiv, injuring one of thempic.twitter.com/zDXGGEwJ40
— BNO News (@BNO News) 1646434065

Protests against COVID-19 restrictions turn violent in Brussels



Protests against Covid-19 restrictions turned violent in Brussels on Sunday, resulting in police using tear gas and water cannons on protesters.

Around 8,000 protesters marched toward the European Union headquarters in Brussels, chanting "freedom" and setting off fireworks, Raidió Teilifís Éireann reported.

Video footage from the protest captured by Bloomberg Quicktake on Twitter depicts a very diverse crowd of Belgians protesting vaccine mandates and COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

"I think every person has the choice to take the vaccine, it's his own choice. That's freedom in my opinion," a protester named Gechet told reporters.

Thousands in Brussels gathered to protest new Covid measures announced Friday as a surge of new cases strains the country\u2019s health services https://trib.al/1kgUWGI\u00a0pic.twitter.com/xSR0gYQelM
— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Bloomberg Quicktake) 1638730696

Many off-duty firefighters also appeared at the protest in uniform instead of going to work, indicating that protesting restrictive lockdowns and the right to refuse vaccinations is important than their jobs.

"(This matters) beyond my job ... I came for my freedom as a human being today," one firefighter said in the footage from Bloomberg Quicktake.

#Belgium Today! The #Brussels firefighter and care worker protest against the covid mandates\nThe home of the EU looking like a warzone as water canon and huge police forces have been deployedpic.twitter.com/2holZ40yJT
— La French ConAction..\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 (@La French ConAction..\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7) 1638719823

The protest took a violent turn after the main crowd dispersed and about 100 people stormed the police barricade blocking access to the European Commission, according to ABC News. The protesters threw trash and other objects, including a bicycle, and set off fireworks and flares. Belgian police set off tear gas bombs and water cannons on the ground in response. No injuries have been reported, according to ABC News.

BELGIUM: Tear gas, water cannons fired as thousands protest against COVID restrictions in Brussels.pic.twitter.com/u1pV04yk0G
— Polca - Let\u2019s Go Brandon \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 (@Polca - Let\u2019s Go Brandon \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1) 1638726620

The protest was in response to the Belgian government's coronavirus restrictions, which have grown progressively tighter for the third consecutive week. The Belgian government announced the new measures on Friday.

The new measures include lowering the age of mask mandates for children to 6 years old and closing down primary schools a week earlier for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Secondary schools will be forced to switch to a hybrid system of classes, half at home and the other half in person at school, according to Reuters.

With a population of 11 million people, Belgium has a recorded average of more than 17,800 daily coronavirus infections over the last seven days. The figures include 44 deaths, according to Raidió Teilifís Éireann.

Belgium is not the only European country that experienced COVID lockdown protests over the weekend.

Protesters in Luxembourg destroyed a barricade blocking a Christmas market and the vaccination tent blocking entry to the market. It was reported that shoppers had to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests to enter the market.

WATCH: Protesters storm Christmas market in Luxembourg, where vaccination or a negative test is requiredpic.twitter.com/svoLntsK0k
— BNO Newsroom (@BNO Newsroom) 1638655372

Protesters in Austria have taken to the streets in "musical protests." The unvaccinated in Austria could face fines up to €1,450 for refusing to be vaccinated, according to the Daily Mail.