A Massachusetts man was arrested after allegedly trying to open the emergency exit door of a plane midflight and then trying to stab a flight attendant.
Francisco Severo Torres, 33, was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport on Sunday evening. He was charged with “one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon,” according to a press release from the Massachusetts United States Attorney’s Office.
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The incident occurred on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston around 45 minutes before the scheduled landing.
According to the press release, the flight crew received an alert that the starboard emergency exit door had been tampered with and began to investigate. Suspicion arose that Torres had tampered with the door, but he denied it when he was confronted.
A flight attendant became worried by Torres’s behavior and asked the pilot to land the aircraft as quickly as possible. Torres then allegedly turned violent.
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“Shortly thereafter, it is alleged that Torres got out of his seat and approached the starboard side door where two flight attendants were standing in the aisle. One of the flight attendants saw Torres mouthing something that he could not hear. Torres then allegedly thrust towards one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times. Passengers then tackled Torres and he was restrained with the assistance of flight crew. Torres was immediately taken into custody upon the flight’s arrival to Boston,” the press release read.
Torres faces the possibility of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
