A routine late‑night flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam on Tuesday abruptly turned into chaos when a 48‑year-old passenger, terrified after claiming he saw a fellow traveler wielding a weapon, opened an emergency exit door during taxiing — deploying the inflatable slide and forcing KLM to cancel the flight.
The man, identified as Johannes Van Heertum, was aboard Flight KL622 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when he phoned 911 to report seeing what he believed was a weapon on the plane. Paralyzed by fear, Van Heertum opened the emergency exit as the aircraft was taxiing to the runway — releasing the slide onto the tarmac.
Passengers and crew must have been stunned. With the slide now deployed and safety compromised, the flight returned to the gate. Authorities from Atlanta Police Department boarded the aircraft, and Van Heertum was taken into custody. According to police, they suspect he was undergoing a mental‑health crisis at the time.
Representatives for KLM confirmed the disruption, noting that Flight KL622 — bound for Amsterdam — was canceled due to the passenger’s “unruly behavior.” In a statement, the airline said the decision was made for safety reasons, and that all other passengers have been rebooked on the next available flights.
As for Van Heertum: after being medically evaluated by EMTs, he was booked into the Clayton County Jail without bond. He faces multiple charges, including reckless conduct, second‑degree criminal damage to property, and interfering with security measures.
This incident highlights how quickly air travel can shift from routine to alarming — especially when mental‑health concerns intersect with strict aviation safety rules. For the other passengers, what was supposed to be a transatlantic flight home turned into a delay, a scramble, and an unexpected return to the gate.
Authorities say the investigation remains open, as they work to piece together exactly what Van Heertum saw and what triggered his fear. The hope is this ends simply as a terrifying mishap — but the legacy will likely linger for all aboard that canceled flight.
