A passenger aboard a delayed Delta Air Lines flight departing Atlanta was removed after opening an emergency exit door during a prolonged delay caused by severe weather, according to airline officials and video circulating online, as reported by The New York Post.

The incident occurred Monday night on a Chicago-bound flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The aircraft had been delayed for hours due to a ground stoppage at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport tied to severe thunderstorms.

Video posted to Reddit’s r/PublicFreakout captured a man with a gray goatee and hat shouting into a plane phone while demanding to leave the aircraft. “How long has it been delayed already?” he yelled. “Three, four hours, and now you’re talking another hour?”

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The passenger then demanded to return to the gate, stating, “Get me to the gate, I want off, or I’ll take myself off,” before turning toward an emergency exit door beside him.

The video shows the man grabbing the handle and opening the door, prompting alarm among nearby passengers. A woman can be heard shouting, “Oh, my God!” as the situation escalated.

When another individual attempted to intervene, the passenger responded dismissively, saying, “It doesn’t matter … You know who matters? Me.” He also said, “I told you idiots,” during the confrontation.

The clip concluded with the pilot addressing the situation over the intercom. “Sir, this is the captain speaking. We are going to go back to the gate,” the captain said.

Clown opens emergency exit on Delta airlines flight pic.twitter.com/Wny2xLumVK

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Delta Air Lines confirmed the aircraft had been held on the tarmac due to weather-related delays affecting flights into Chicago. During that time, a passenger became disruptive and attempted to open a cabin door.

According to the airline, the door was partially opened, but “the slide did not deploy.” There were 168 passengers onboard at the time.

Following the incident, the aircraft taxied back to the gate, where the passenger was removed by security personnel.

Flight tracking data shows the plane left the gate at 7:38 p.m. but did not take off until 12:44 a.m., resulting in more than five hours spent taxiing. The flight ultimately arrived in Chicago at approximately 3 a.m. local time.

Delta issued a statement addressing the situation. “The safety of our customers and crew comes before all else, and Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior,” a spokesperson said. “We apologize to our customers on this flight for the delay in their travels.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.

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