A man in his 60s suspected of heading overseas for the purpose of euthanasia was stopped at the airport just before the plane took off. Police, acting on a report from the family, assessed the situation and even took emergency measures to delay the plane's departure to prevent him from leaving the country.
According to the Incheon International Airport Police on the 10th, at about 9:30 a.m. the previous day, the family of A, a man in his 60s, called 112, saying, "Father (A) is trying to leave the country for the purpose of euthanasia." A was reportedly diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and was scheduled to board a flight to Paris, France, at 12:05 p.m. that day.
Police met A at around 10 a.m. after receiving the report and checked the circumstances of the planned departure, but A was said to have said, "I'm not in good health and want to take one last trip." At the time, it was difficult to determine the intent to leave for euthanasia, so it did not immediately lead to restraint.
The situation shifted rapidly at about 11:50 a.m. When the family relayed that they had found a letter in the form of a will containing the expression "I'm sorry," police took emergency measures to delay the plane's departure and had A deplane. After extended interviews and persuasion, A was reportedly handed over to the family.
Police determined that A had intended to travel to Switzerland, which allows assisted dying with dignity for foreigners. A police official said, "After the letter was found, we took emergency measures to delay the plane's departure and conducted an in-depth interview," adding, "A police officer of a similar age to A personally persuaded him at length, and we were able to prevent his departure."