Massachusetts State Police arrested a JetBlue passenger Tuesday, Jan. 7, after he opened an emergency door on a flight taxiing for takeoff at Logan International Airport in Boston. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after workers discovered two bodies in the wheel well of one of its planes that landed in southern Florida.
While airport officials called the police in response to the incident, other passengers restrained the suspect, 23-year-old Angel Luis Morales Torres. An off-duty FBI agent then handcuffed him.
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JetBlue released a statement to CNN saying the customer opened an emergency exit over an aircraft wing, causing the deployment of an emergency slide. The motive behind the action remains unknown.
Torres appeared in East Boston District Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors charged him with interfering with aircraft operation.
The judge released him to his parents after they posted $500 bail.
A passenger on the flight, Fred Wynn, told Boston affiliate WBZ that Torres and a young woman on the plane appeared to be arguing over a cell phone. Wynn said that when she refused to give him the phone, that “set him off.”
Torres’ attorney said he has no recollection of the incident, and this was more of a medical issue than a criminal one. The judge allowed Torres to travel home to Puerto Rico to be with his parents.
The affected flight from Boston to San Juan arrived safely.