Teen jumps out of emergency door as flight lands at San Francisco airport

San Francisco: Authorities said a teenage boy travelling alone opened an emergency door after his plane landed, slid down the wing and jumped onto a tarmac at San Francisco before shocked passengers could do anything to stop him.

Some passengers flying on Copa Airlines Flight 208 from Panama City, Panama, said that by the time they realized the door had been removed, the boy was already on the ground, running.

San Francisco Airport spokesman Doug Yakel said the 17-year-old removed the door as the plane was heading to a gate on Tuesday.

Yakel says an airfield construction crew held him until police arrived. He said the teenager is a US citizen and appeared to be in emotional distress during the flight.

He said no runways or flights were affected and that the unidentified boy wasn't injured.