The Massachusetts District Attorney's Office charged a man after he threatened to stab a crew member and tried to open one of the emergency doors of the plane mid-flight.
The events occurred on March 5. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, was traveling on a United Airlines plane from Los Angeles to Boston. The passenger tried to manipulate one of the emergency exits. One of the flight attendants stopped him from opening it and he tried to stab her in the neck three times with a broken metal spoon. Several people had to restrain Severo Torres to prevent him from stabbing the crew member.
🚨#WATCH: Terrifying video as a man attacks a flight attendant and attempts to open emergency exit during United Airlines flight
⁰📌#Boston | #MA
⁰Watch shocking video that shows a 33-year-old man trying to open an emergency exit door and attempting to stab a flight attendant… https://t.co/SntFwMd4Xk pic.twitter.com/lRihhHGIbQ— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 7, 2023
In a statement, United Airlines said:
Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers, one customer was restrained after becoming a security concern on United flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston. We have zero tolerance for any type of violence on our flights.
Severo Torres was arrested upon landing at Boston's Logan International Airport. In sworn statements to authorities, the defendant said he tried to open the door with the broken metal spoon to jump out of the plane. He further stated that he knew people would die if he managed to open it.
According to the Massachusetts District Attorney's Office, the man faces up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for charges of interfering and attempting to interfere with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. His hearing is scheduled for March 9.
