When Nguyen Thanh Chuong opened the emergency exit of VietJet Air Flight 175 as the plane prepared to leave Hanoi for Ho Chi Minh City on April 17, the 43-year-old farmer from a village on the outskirts of Hanoi didn't mean to cause any trouble. He just wanted to find the bathroom. Chuong's rookie mistake activated the Airbus A321's evacuation slide, causing a three-hour delay that cost the airline about $30,000 and set off a chain reaction of schedule disruptions. Such mishaps are likely to be repeated. The emergence of a middle class and the rise of discount carriers is causing headaches for flight crews and ground staff across Asia as the world's fastest-growing region for aviation welcomes loo million new flyers every year.
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