Volaris flight delayed after passenger deploys emergency slide during Phoenix departure

After police intervened and removed the individual believed responsible for opening the door—who reportedly suffered an anxiety attack—passengers were transferred onto another Volaris Airbus A320neo (registration N552VL). They departed after a six-hour delay.

The original aircraft (N526VL) was later flown without passengers back to Guadalajara once it had been cleared for operation.

Inadvertent slide deployments (ISD) are incidents where emergency slides are activated unintentionally. These events can occur due to mechanical issues or human error but are rarely caused by deliberate actions from passengers. Industry estimates suggest such incidents can cost airlines up to $200,000 per event due to cancellations or compensation expenses; more details can be found in reports like those from the Los Angeles Times.

Cases involving unruly airline passengers have increased in recent years according to Federal Aviation Administration data. During summer 2024 alone there were 915 reported cases—106 related to intoxication—and nearly 1,000 cases had been logged as of August 2025. Penalties for such behavior may include substantial fines up to $43,658 per violation as well as potential bans or jail time under FAA policy; additional information is available via the FAA's statistics.

While ISDs typically result from operational errors rather than passenger interference, training on multiple aircraft models remains essential for airline crews because different planes have varying mechanisms for arming or disarming doors.

Volaris operates as an ultra-low-cost carrier based in Mexico with major hubs at Guadalajara International Airport among others. The airline’s CEO is Enrique Beltranena.