Copied from this link:
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/03/952626592.html


Jet's Door Opened At 12000 Feet
Mar 9, 2000

A flight engineer opened a door to pull in a loose strap on board an American Airlines jet flying at 12,000 feet. Passengers on the Miami to New York, Newark flight did not know what was happening until there was a sudden change in cabin pressure.

They felt their ears pop and air rushed through the cabin about 1.30 p.m. Wednesday when a rear door was opened

The pilot later explained that the strap had to be retrieved because of the possibility its buckle could break loose and get sucked into an engine, passenger Cora Diaz told The Star-Ledger of Newark in a story for today's editions.

Diaz said she was sitting at the back of the airplane and saw a flight engineer and two crew members open the door.

``Everybody picked up their heads and said, 'What's going on? What's going on?''' Diaz said.

After closing and locking the door seconds later, the flight engineer returned to the cockpit and the pilot explained the procedure. The pilot said the strap was inadvertently left behind by food service workers.

He told passengers he slowed the plane and remained at 12,000 feet during the maneuver, Diaz said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing the incident, and a spokesman declined to say whether the pilot had acted properly.