US Man Arrested After Attempting To Open Emergency Door On Aircraft And Stabbing Flight Attendant

Francisco Severo Torres, 33, was arrested on Sunday when the plane landed at Boston Logan International Airport after a flight from Los Angeles.

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A man from Leominster, Massachusetts was arrested for allegedly trying to stab a cabin crew member thrice with a broken spoon and for trying to open an emergency exit door while aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston, reported news agency ANI.

Francisco Severo Torres, 33, was arrested on Sunday when the plane landed at Boston Logan International Airport after a flight from Los Angeles. He will remain detained pending a hearing set for Thursday, reported ANI.

The US Department of Justice in a statement said, "A Leominster, Mass. man has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door while aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston and then allegedly attempting to stab a flight attendant in the neck."

Torres has been charged with attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon.

According to prosecutors, the flight crew of the plane noticed about 45 minutes before landing in Boston that an emergency exit door had been disarmed.

After locking the door and emergency slide, the flight attendants informed the captain and other members of the flight crew about the incident. In subsequent discussions, another flight attendant said that he had seen Torres close to the door and believed Torres had tampered with it.

One of the flight attendants then spoke to Torres about tampering with the door. Torres allegedly replied by questioning if there were any cameras capturing the incident, as per the statement.

Court records state that the flight attendant advised the captain that they thought Torres posed a threat to the plane and that the pilot needed to make a quick landing.

Following this, Torres allegedly approached the starboard side door where two flight attendants were standing in the aisle. 

Torres was seen by a flight attendant mouthing something that he was unable to hear. He then allegedly lunged at one of the flight attendants with a broken metal spoon hitting him thrice in the neck region. Torres was then tackled by passengers and restrained with the help of the crew members. As soon as the plane touched down in Boston, Torres was taken into custody.

Torres is said to have inquired about the placement of the door handle in the safety card from a different passenger during later interviews with passengers who were on board the trip. During the safety briefing by the flight attendant, Torres asked the question to another passenger.

Prior to attacking the flight attendant, The US man was reportedly spotted pacing in a galley. The accusation of interfering or attempting to interfere with flight crew members or attendants by means of a dangerous weapon has a potential penalty of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to USD 250,000, according to the statement.