Flight attendant opens emergency door, deploys slide to get off plane in Houston

A United Airlines flight attendant has been removed from her duties after she disembarked a plane by pulling open a door and deploying an emergency slide at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Monday, according to multiple reports.

The flight attendant, who was not identified, could be seen in video obtained by KPRC throwing a bag out of the plane before quickly sliding down the emergency slide.

United Airlines told the news station the incident happened around noon on Flight 1246 shortly after it came to a stop in Houston. The plane was arriving from Sacramento, California.

The airline did not give a reason for the flight attendant's unusual exit. In a statement to KTRK, United Airlines said it was investigating the incident and had removed the woman from her flying duties.

“We hold all of our employees to the highest standard,” the airliner said. “The unsafe behavior is unacceptable and does not represent the more than 20,000 flight attendants who ensure the safety of our customers.”

The incident happened while 159 passengers and five other crew members were on the aircraft, according to KTRK.

While the flight attendant made her hasty exit, many on board didn't notice, KPRC reported, because at the same time a man was having trouble breathing in the back of the plane and had to be escorted away in a wheelchair.

The news station contacted the flight attendant's family Tuesday, who said the woman was doing well and declined to comment.

Cox Media Group