(AFP).-An American passenger who was aboard a United airline flight was arrested by allegedly trying to open the emergency exit of the plane and injuring a flight attendant with a metal spoonprosecutors reported Monday.
Francisco Severo Torres, 33 years old, was arrested Sunday when the plane landed at Boston’s Logan International Airport after departing from Los Angelesthe Massachusetts attorney general’s office said.
The man, born in Loeminster, Massachusetts, was charged with attempted interference with a flight crew using a dangerous weaponaccording to the statement.
According to prosecutors, the crew noticed that one of the emergency exit doors had been unlocked about 45 minutes before landing in Boston.
Flight attendants confronted Torres, who was seen near the gate, and notified the captain. “They believed that Torres implied a threat to the aircraftthey said.
Right after, Torres allegedly attacked a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon “in the neck area on three occasions,” the attorney general’s office reported.
“The passengers knocked down Torres and he was subdued with the help of the crew,” he added.
In a statement, United Airlines reported that “no serious injuries were reported.”
“We have zero tolerance for any form of violence on our flights, and this customer will be banned from flying United pending an investigation,” the airline said.
If convicted, Torres could face a life sentence.
