A man has been accused of trying to kill passengers on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston after trying to open the plane’s emergency door on Sunday. Francisco Severo Torres, 33, also attacked a flight attendant with a broken spoon.
After investigations, the flight attendants claimed that the American had tampered with the security lock on the emergency exit door. They informed the pilot that the passenger posed a threat and requested a quick landing.
As they analyzed the door, Torres reportedly approached the crew members and said incomprehensible words.
According to witnesses, he threw himself at one of the stewards with a broken metal spoon and struck him three times in the neck.
The man was taken away by officers as soon as the plane landed at Boston Logan International Airport. He was accused of threatening the flight crew and flight attendants with a dangerous weapon.
In a video posted to social media, the suspect can be heard: “So where’s the security gun? I’m waiting for them to point the gun at me so I can show everyone that I’m going to die.”
“I will kill every man on this plane,” he threatens. One picture shows six passengers on Torres trying to contain it.
According to the WCVB, the man told investigators that he went into the plane’s lavatory and broke the spoon in half to make the gun. So he went into the kitchen, disarmed the door and tried unsuccessfully to open it. He would have admitted knowing that if he opened the door, many people would die.
In a statement, United Airlines said: “Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers, a passenger on United Flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston was detained after it became a safety issue. We have zero tolerance for violence of any kind. Carry on our flights”.
The first hearing in the Torres trial is scheduled for next Thursday (9).