All couples argue, but one man in China seem to find an argument with his girlfriend a bit too much.

The 18-year-old, surnamed Zhang, tried to open the emergency door and kill himself during a flight after he and his girlfriend had a quarrel on the plane last Thursday, according to People's Daily Online.

Cabin crew quickly took control of the man, and he was later given a 15-day detention by the police authority.

According to the report, Zhang and his 20-year-old girlfriend, surnamed Wu, were on Air China's flight CA4169 from Chongqing to Beijing when the incident occurred.

Wu told the police that she tried to break up with Zhang during the three-hour flight and the pair started arguing.

She said she told Zhang they were not compatible and they should stop contacting each other for a couple of days.

That was when Zhang took things to extremes.

Wu said: "He suddenly stood up and said I'm going to die in front of you."

The flight attendants, who were distributing meals at the time, thought the couple were fighting and tried to calm them down.

According to Wu, Zhang strode over her tray table and aimed directly to the emergency door.

Cabin crew quickly followed Zhang and brought him under control.

An air security officer, who witnessed the event, said he saw Zhang attempting to open the exit.

Another officer claimed the man was trying to pull the door when he was caught.

As soon as the plane landed, the couple were detained by officers from the Public Security Bureau of the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Zhang told the police that he wanted to scare his girlfriend and that he wasn't really thinking of jumping off the plane, according to the same report.

He said: "I didn't know [the consequences], otherwise I would not have done such a silly thing."

Zhang was given 15 days in detention by the police for moving aircraft facilities in operation and without permission.

His girlfriend was fined 200 yuan (22 pounds) for disturbing the order of public transport.