She was onboard an Air China flight from the eastern city of Quzhou, in the Zheijang Province, to Chengdu on July 4.

The plane was waiting on the tarmac when the first-time flyer went to the back of the plane to use the toilet.

However, when she opened a door she mistook to be the toilet door, the evacuation slide unfolded in front of her. Once the slide was deployed, the crew moved the woman and the other passengers off the aircraft and the flight was subsequently cancelled.

The woman opened the door without anyone noticing:  When the evacuation slide popped out, even the flight attendants were startled, one passenger told local media.

‘The female passenger was in tears when she heard that she would need to pay damages.’

The woman could end up having to pay up to £22,000 for activating the emergency door, as the plane will now be grounded for maintenance for several days.

Moreover, she could face large fines and even administrative detention as opening the emergency exit doors on a plane is illegal in China.

After disembarking the plane, the woman was questioned by police.