According to a news.com.au story, a French tourist on an Australia-bound plane tried to open the door mid-flight to go have a smoke.

Sadrine Helene Sellies, 34, was placed on a good behaviour bond after pleading guilty in Brisbane Magistrates' Court today to endangering the safety of an aircraft. The court was told Sellies was on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Brisbane on Saturday when the incident occurred. She was seen walking towards one of the aircraft's emergency exits with an unlit cigarette and a lighter in her hand and began tampering with the door.

But a flight attendant intervened and took Sellies back to her seat. Sellies was watched closely until the plane landed in Brisbane, where it was met by Australian Federal Police and she was arrested and charged.

Defence lawyer Helen Shilton told the court Sellies had been terrified of flying and had taken sleeping tablets and alcohol before takeoff. She had no memory of what had happened on the flight and also had a history of sleepwalking, Ms Shilton said.