JAKARTA - A United States man tried to open an emergency exit and stabbed a flight attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon during United Airlines flights, prosecutors said on Monday.
The Francisco Severo Torres, 33, of Leominster, was detained by passengers and crew on a cross-country flight from Los Angeles to Boston before being arrested on Sunday, at Boston Logan International Airport when the United Airlines driver with flight number 2609 landed, according to the US attorney's office in Boston.
Torres faces one charge of interference and attempted interference against flight crews and flight attendants using dangerous weapons.
"We do not tolerate any kind of violence on our flights, and these customers will be banned from flying at United pending an investigation," United Airlines said.
"We are working with law enforcement on their investigation," he continued.
He was detained in an initial appearance in federal court on Monday and began trial on Thursday.
An email requesting comment was handed over to its federal public defenders, AP said.
The plane was about 45 minutes before landing in Boston, when the crew received an alarm that the side door of the plane was damaged, prosecutors said.
A flight attendant noticed the door locking handle had been removed from a fully locked position, about a quarter of the road to an unlocked position, and that the emergency sliding control lever had been removed to a stripped position, authorities said. The crew secured the door.
It is known that the doors on the aircraft cannot be opened once in flight due to cabin pressure.
Another flight attendant has noticed that Torres is seen near the door and believes he has damaged it, authorities say.
The crew told the captain he was a threat and the plane had to land as quickly as possible.
At the time, prosecutors accused Torres of getting out of his chair, approaching two flight attendants standing in the aisle, and using a spoon to carry out a stabbing motion, hitting a flight attendant three times in the neck area.
Investigators said Torres claimed to know that if he opened the door, many people would die. Meanwhile, United Airlines airlines said no one was injured.
"Thanks to the swift action of our crew and customers, one customer was detained after becoming a security issue at United Flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston," the company said.
"The flight landed safely and was greeted by law enforcement."
It is known, if found guilty, Torres could face life imprisonment.
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