A Massachusetts man has reportedly been arrested and charged after authorities say he tried to open an airplane door mid-flight. Additionally, authorities report that the person repeatedly tried to stab a flight attendant throughout a cross-country flight, as reported by WNCT.
A Massachusetts man has been charged after authorities say he tried to open an emergency exit door, then tried to stab a flight attendant repeatedly throughout a cross-country flight on Sunday. https://t.co/nlqJBeWMc8
— WNCT (@wnct9) March 7, 2023
More Details About The Mid-Flight Incident
According to a launch from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, obtained by WNCT, a United Airlines flight crew obtained a notification that the door between its first-class passengers and coach passengers was disarmed. The alert was obtained 45 minutes earlier than the Los Angeles flight was anticipated to land at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
A flight attendant proceeded to analyze the report. They discovered the door’s locking deal with moved a quarter-turn “out of the fully locked position.” Additionally, the lever that armed the emergency slide was “disarmed.”
Another flight attendant stepped in and revealed that they noticed a person, 33-year-old Francisco Severo Torres, close to the door. The attendant defined that he believed Torres tampered with it.
The second attendant knowledgeable the captain of the aircraft that he believed Torres was a menace and the aircraft needs to be instantly landed.
The Incident Quickly Escalated
The incident seems to have escalated in a short time from that time. Video footage from one of many flight’s passengers has surfaced on Twitter. In the footage, Torres will be heard repeatedly asking about “Homeland Security.”
Additionally, Torres states that he’s “waiting for them” to “point the gun” at him. Furthermore, Torres states that he intends “to kill every man on this plane.”
Torres can be heard telling people on the aircraft that he’s coming for them, in addition to instructing them to “shut up.” The 33-year-old then will get up from his seat and says that there shall be a “blood bath” on the aircraft.
Torres then steps out from his seat, into the aisle, and declares that he’s “taking over this plane.”
The man then walks up the aisle and is seen hanging a flight attendant forward of him. According to CNN, Torres attacked the person with a “broken metal spoon,” hitting him “in the neck area three times.”
According to investigators, Torres defined that he tried to assault the flight attendant as a result of he believed the attendant supposed to kill him.
Video of Francisco Severo Torres who stabbed a flight attendant thrice within the neck and tried to open the aircraft’s emergency door. Sunday Flight from Los Angeles to Boston. Video from Lisa Olsen. pic.twitter.com/hFkabrDain
— DeL2000 (@DeL2000) March 7, 2023
Video footage then resumes with a bunch of individuals surrounding Torres. It seems that by this time, he’s made his technique to the emergency exit door and the encompassing group is trying to stop him from opening it.
A girl will be heard screaming “ow” and “help.”
The group continues to wrestle Torres to the bottom.
Fellow passengers on United Flight 2609 subdued 33-year-old Francisco Severo Torres, of Leominster, Massachusetts, after he allegedly tried to open an emergency exit door midflight and stabbed a flight attendant a number of instances on March 5, 2023. pic.twitter.com/708mvCSX1E
— @ one other Reverend Ike (@anotherRev_ike_) March 7, 2023
The De-Escalation Of The Mid-Flight Altercation
According to the information launch obtained by WNCT, flight passengers have been those who tackled Torres. From there, the flight attendants detained the person and launched him to legislation enforcement upon the aircraft’s touchdown.
A United Airlines spokesperson shared a proper assertion relating to the incident.
Thanks to the fast motion of our crew and clients, one buyer was restrained after changing into a safety concern on United flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston. The flight landed safely and was met by legislation enforcement.
United Airlines has reportedly banned Torres from future flights.
We have zero tolerance for any kind of violence on our flights, and this buyer shall be banned from flying on United pending an investigation.
Francisco Severo Torres has since been charged with one depend of “interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon.” The cost, in accordance with the outlet, carries a “maximum possible sentence of up to life in prison.”
Furthermore, the 33-year-old was detained on Monday and anticipated to look in courtroom on March 9.