News Desk
NEW YORK: A passenger on a United Airlines flight, flying from from Los Angeles to Boston, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door and stabbing a flight attendant in the neck, US prosecutors said on Monday.
Torres, 33, has been charged with attempted interference with members of the flight crew and attendants using a dangerous weapon, it said in a statement.
The US passenger
Francisco Severo Torres, who hails from Leominster in the US state of Massachusetts, was arrested on Sunday when the United Airlines flight 2609 landed at Boston Logan International Airport, said the US Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
The flight crew noticed about 45 minutes before landing in Boston that an emergency exit door had been disarmed, according to prosecutors.
Flight attendants say they confronted Torres, who had been seen near the door, and informed the captain that “they believed Torres posed a threat to the aircraft.”
Shortly afterwards, Torres allegedly attacked a flight attendant, stabbing the staff-member with a broken metal spoon on the neck area three times, the US Attorney’s Office said.
“Passengers then tackled Torres who was then restrained with the assistance of flight crew,” it said.
United Airlines said in a statement “no serious injuries were reported.”
“We have zero tolerance for any kind of violence on our flights, and this customer will be banned from flying on United pending an investigation,” the airline said.
If convicted, Torres could face a life-sentence. — AFP/APP
