Opening an aircraft door is impossible while the plane is at cruising altitude or above 10,000 feet due to air pressure. However, as the plane gets lower, experts say it is possible for a door to open as the pressure outside equalizes with the pressure inside the plane.

It is physically impossible for a human to open a standard aircraft plug-door while the plane is at cruising altitude. This is due to the massive pressure differential between the pressurized cabin and the thin outside air. At 35,000 feet, the cabin is pressurized to roughly 8,000 feet, creating a force of several tons (often over 8,000 pounds) pressing the door against the fuselage frame. Because aircraft doors are designed as "plugs" that must be pulled inward before they can be swung outward, a person would have to overcome the weight of a heavy SUV just to move the handle. Furthermore, modern aircraft are equipped with mechanical and electronic locks that engage automatically once the plane reaches a certain speed or altitude. In 2026, while we occasionally see viral videos of passengers attempting to open doors, these incidents usually happen while the plane is on the ground or at very low altitudes during taxi; once the "pressure seal" is established during ascent, the laws of physics become the ultimate safety lock that no human muscle can break.