Women Trying To Open Plane Door Mid-Flight To "Get Some Fresh Air"

[lordlundar]

It's basically because the doors open inward first and because the pressure from the cabin is pushing them out it is physically impossible.

I wouldn't say impossible, though I doubt anyone short of a bodybuilder hopped up on drugs would get it open more than a crack for a split second.

[Broomjockey]

Also, don't forget, on the extremely off-chance someone managed to get the door open, you're not going to get sucked out of the plane, and it's not going to cause the plane to plummet from the sky. The pressure differential isn't enough for that. And the oxygen masks from the ceiling will keep you breathing fine until the pilot can make a quick but *safe* landing. The pressure difference between the outside of the plane and the inside's usually about the difference between the bottom of a swimming pool and the surface, or less. You're in more danger just crossing the street.

[SteeleDragon78]

Also, don't forget, on the extremely off-chance someone managed to get the door open, you're not going to get sucked out of the plane, and it's not going to cause the plane to plummet from the sky. The pressure differential isn't enough for that. And the oxygen masks from the ceiling will keep you breathing fine until the pilot can make a quick but *safe* landing. The pressure difference between the outside of the plane and the inside's usually about the difference between the bottom of a swimming pool and the surface, or less. You're in more danger just crossing the street.

actually the problem at altitude isnt so much pressure differential its low oxygen saturation. at 40,000 ft which is the average cruising altitude the oxygen levels are very low. once you get above 10000 you need a pressure cabin or o2 masks. if for some reason there were a catastrophic pressure loss your ears would pop painfully but once you had the mask on you would be fine. just don't try to fly with a cold or head congestion, thats horridly painful. ive burst an eardrum flying with a cold.

i do have a flight attendant trick for that though, get some affrin no drip, blow your nose really well, spray affrin, wait 5 min, blow really well, spray affrin, wait 5 more min, blow really well and spray affrin one last time. should clear you out enough to fly, add to that some mucinex for head congestion and you should be happy as a clam and high as a kite

[Broomjockey]

actually the problem at altitude isnt so much pressure differential its low oxygen saturation. at 40,000 ft which is the average cruising altitude the oxygen levels are very low.

This would be why I mentioned being fine with oxygen masks on
But seriously, thanks for going into the science. I'd forgotten most of it

[Hyndis]

As well, the doors are designed that even if the latches are disabled (and I wish ANYONE luck with that) the doors are designed not to be able to be opened as long as the plane is pressurized.

And if by some miracle they open the door, they will most likely only endanger themselves.

While explosive decompression of an airliner sucks, the pilots have oxygen masks and the passengers also have those masks to provide oxygen until the aircraft can descend to a breathable altitude. The airframe itself also wouldn't be compromised...commercial airliners can do a vertical loop without the airframe failing. I'm sure it would suck massively to be passenger during such a maneuver, but the aircraft isn't gonna fall apart.

In any event, someone managing (through some miracle) to open up the door would most likely be a Darwin Award without killing everyone else on board.

[Hyndis]

actually the problem at altitude isnt so much pressure differential its low oxygen saturation. at 40,000 ft which is the average cruising altitude the oxygen levels are very low. once you get above 10000 you need a pressure cabin or o2 masks. if for some reason there were a catastrophic pressure loss your ears would pop painfully but once you had the mask on you would be fine. just don't try to fly with a cold or head congestion, thats horridly painful. ive burst an eardrum flying with a cold.

i do have a flight attendant trick for that though, get some affrin no drip, blow your nose really well, spray affrin, wait 5 min, blow really well, spray affrin, wait 5 more min, blow really well and spray affrin one last time. should clear you out enough to fly, add to that some mucinex for head congestion and you should be happy as a clam and high as a kite

The main risk is passing out due to lack of oxygen. Brain damage will take quite a while to occur at that altitude, if it'll even occur at all. There was a balloon skydiver that lost his glove at over 100,000 feet of altitude. His hand went numb very quickly due to the cold but once he was in the denser, warmer part of the atmosphere his hand returned to normal.

There was another incident at NASA where a technician was exposed to hard vacuum (at least as hard as they could make in the training facility) without being suited up. He reported the saliva in his mouth boiling before he passed out, but he quickly woke up again once air was restored and with no ill effects.

The human body, and airframes, are far hardier than most people think.

[crazylegs]

While explosive decompression of an airliner sucks,

Opening the door probably wouldn't result in explosive decompression, but it would be noticable.

The pressure difference at 37,000 feet is similar to the pressure difference at 10 meters below the surface of the water (aka 1atm).

Those who are nervous fliers probably won't want to highlight the below text, or infact click on the links either.

Even if the airframe is compromised as in the aloha airlines incident or the recent (and less impressive) Qantas incident both aircraft made a safe landing.