Overview

• Francisco Severo Torres, 34, pleaded guilty to interference and attempted interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon.
• The March 2023 incident occurred aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston, where Torres tried to open an emergency exit mid-flight.
• Torres threatened to kill passengers and stabbed a flight attendant in the neck area with a broken metal spoon, though no injuries were reported.
• Passengers and flight crew subdued and restrained Torres until law enforcement took him into custody upon landing in Boston.
• Torres, previously deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial, now faces up to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 17, 2025.