US passenger arrested for stabbing flight attendant, attempting to open exit door

A US passenger was arrested for allegedly stabbing a flight attendant using a metal spoon and attempting to open an exit door while he was on board a United Airlines flight,prosecutors said on Monday.

Francisco Severo Torres, a 33-year-old resident of Massachusetts, was arrested on Sunday after the plane landed at Boston Logan International Airport after flying from Los Angeles, stated the US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts.

Torres, who lives in Massachusetts' Leominster, is facing charges of attempted interference with flight attendants and crew members using a dangerous weapon, it said in a statement.

As per the prosecutors, the plane's crew members noticed around 45 minutes before the plane was to land in Boston that someone had tried to open an emergency exit door.

Torres, who was sitting near the door, was confronted by the flight attendants and the captain was notified that "they believed Torres posed a threat to the aircraft," the prosecutors said.

Shortly afterwards, a flight attendant was allegedly attacked by Torres with a broken metal spoon, "hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times," said the US Attorney's Office.

"Passengers then tackled Torres and he was restrained with the assistance of flight crew," it added.

United Airlines issued a statement saying that "no serious injuries were reported."

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"We have zero tolerance for any type of violence on our flights, and this customer will be banned from flying on United pending an investigation," the airline stated.

If the court convicts Torres, he may have to face life imprisonment.

(With inputs from agencies)

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