Plane passenger restrained with cable ties after trying to open aircraft door mid-flight

This is the moment a passenger tried to open an emergency exit mid-flight before he was restrained with cable ties.

The footage shows staff wrestling the man away from the door as the plane was 30,000ft in the air.

Indian national Jamsheer Athanikkal,36,has since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Athanikkal sat in 12A on a Batik Air flight from Malaysia to India on Wednesday when he allegedly tried to wrench open the emergency exit.

Scratches can be seen around the window panel which he allegedly tried to break open.

Other passengers and cabin crew fought to overpower him before restraining him with cable ties.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.It is alleged he threatened fellow fliers when they tried to stop him.The flight was diverted back to  Kuala Lumpur,where Athanikkal was taken into custody.Athanikkal,who works in hospitality,reportedly told officers during questioning about the incident that he had ‘felt like doing so at that moment’.He allegedly told the police he had ‘felt like dying while travelling on the flight’.The passneger tried wenching open the airplane doorsThe suspect reportedly added he was flying home to see his newborn child.A spokesman for Kochi airport police said the incident happened during the flight between 9.30pm and 11pm.He said: ‘Jamsheer was a traveller in seat number 12A.‘Without any provocation,he tried to open the emergency exit and destroyed the exit window panel.‘He threatened the co-passengers and the crew,who tried to prevent him.‘Later,he was overpowered by the co-passengers and the crew.’Athanikkal was first arrested on suspicion of criminal intimidation,failing to follow official safety directions and endangering public safety.Officers have now also arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder.The spokesman said: ‘However,as the act of the accused could have endangered the lives of the co-passengers,we have invoked an attempt to murder charge against him.‘He has to be questioned in detail as part of the probe.’Police want to remand Athanikkal in custody and will establish his mental condition as part of their investigations.Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.