"He saved our lives," say fellow passengers in his defence

A passenger of Aeromexico, Mexico's national airline, was hailed as a hero for opening the emergency exit door of the plane and walking onto the wing as the airline's flight remained delayed for hours, BBC reported.

The incident happened on Thursday at the Mexico City International Airport.

The Guatemala-bound plane stuck on the tarmac, had been delayed for 4 hours and 56 minutes with people locked in without any ventilation or water.

The man, who has not been identified, turned himself in as per law, the airport authorities said, later handing him over to the police.

The man's act has been defended by 77 of his fellow passengers, who have issued a joint statement lauding him for saving their lives. They said his action was intended for the well-being of other passengers for which they have extended their full support to him.

"All passengers on the flight from CDMX [Mexico City] to Guatemala [flight] AM 0672 state that the passenger on board who opened the emergency window was for the protection of everyone, with the support of everyone, since the delay and lack of air created dangerous conditions for the health of the passengers," the handwritten note by fellow passengers reads.

"He saved our lives," they wrote, signing the statement with their names and signatures.