• South Korea Nine people hospitalized after a passenger opened the emergency door of a plane in mid-flight

A man who opened an emergency exit gate during a flight in South Korea was formally arrested Sunday and faces up to 10 years in prison for violating aviation security law.

During preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old man told investigators he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly, according to police.

Twelve people were slightly injured Friday after the door of Asiana Airlines' Airbus A321-200 opened, sending air swooping inside the cabin and terrifying passengers.

Some testified that they suffered severe ear pain and saw others screaming and crying. A video shared on social media shows the effects of air blowing into the cabin.

Open the door of the plane in mid-flight and there are moments of panic in South Korea

Normally, emergency exit doors cannot be opened mid-flight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the aircraft.

But during Friday's incident, the man managed to open the door likely because the plane was flying at low altitude as it prepared to land and there wasn't much difference in inside and outside pressure, Asiana Airlines officials say.

The Korean Transport Ministry said the plane was 700 feet (213 meters) away when the man opened the door. The plane was preparing to land in Daegu on a one-hour flight from the southern island of Jeju with 200 people on board, including teenage athletes on their way to a track and field competition, according to Asiana Airlines.

On Sunday, a district court in Daegu approved a warrant to formally arrest the man. Police earlier requested the arrest warrant, citing the seriousness of the crime and the possibility that the man could flee, according to Daegu police.

"I wanted to get off the plane soon," the man, whose face was covered by a black hoodie, cap and mask, told reporters in court ahead of the review of his arrest warrant.

"I feel sorry for the kids," he said, in a likely reference to teenage athletes.

Daegu police said they have up to 20 days to investigate the man before determining whether to send him to prosecutors for possible indictment.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for violating the aviation security law that prohibits passengers from handling entrance gates, emergency exit gates and other equipment on board, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Daegu police said the man, surnamed Lee, told them he was under stress after losing a job recently and wanted to get off the plane soon because he felt suffocated just before landing.

People who were taken to hospitals were mostly treated for minor problems such as breathing difficulties.

Lee was sitting near the emergency exit. As a preventive measure, Asiana Airlines said in a statement that, as of Sunday, it is halting the sale of emergency exit seats on its planes.

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