A man has been arrested in Massachusetts after allegedly attempting to stab a flight attendant with a spoon and tampering with the emergency exit on a flight from Los Angeles to Boston.
Francisco Severo Torres, 33, has been charged with one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon.
About 45 minutes before landing, the flight crew was alerted that a lock on a side door between the coach and first class sections had been partially moved from the locked to the unlocked position, and the lever securing the emergency slide had been disarmed. The flight crew secured the door and slide and reported the incident to the captain.
Another flight attendant later told the captain that he saw Torres near the door and believed he had tampered with the securements. He advised the captain to land the aircraft, as Torres could be a risk to the flight.
When a flight attendant confronted Torres, he allegedly asked if there were cameras that could confirm the allegations. Shortly after, Torres allegedly approached two flight attendants who were standing near the side door and lunged at one of them, hitting them on the neck with a broken metal spoon three times.
Several passengers and members of the flight crew tackled Torres and detained him. He was arrested at the Boston Logan International Airport after the flight landed.
In interviews with law enforcement, passengers said they witnessed Torres ask another passenger to point out on the safety card where the handle on the side door was located before the incident.
Torres's charges can carry up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to flight regulations and guidelines, as any interference with flight crew members or attendants can have serious consequences. Photo by skinnylawyer from Los Angeles, California, USA, Wikimedia commons.