Passenger opens door on taxiing KLM flight to Amsterdam thinking they saw a gun

A KLM flight preparing to depart Atlanta for Amsterdam was forced to abort takeoff Tuesday night after a panicked passenger opened an emergency exit and deployed the slide while the aircraft was taxiing, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

Police said the disruption began when the passenger — identified as Johannes van H., 32 — called emergency services from inside KLM Flight 622 and reported that he believed another passenger had a weapon on board. His nationality was not disclosed.

“Preliminary investigation indicates Van H. believed he saw another passenger with a weapon and appeared to have panicked,” the department stated. The airline canceled the flight after the emergency slide deployed onto one of the runways.

According to police, Johannes van H. appeared to be experiencing a mental health episode when he opened the emergency door. Paramedics evaluated him at the airport’s International Terminal Precinct before he was charged with reckless conduct, criminal damage to property, and interfering with security measures. He was transferred to Clayton County Jail.

Atlanta Police said the information remains preliminary and may change as the investigation progresses.