A passenger on a United Airlines (UAL) flight from Los Angeles to Boston has been arrested for partially disarming the emergency exit door, attempting to open it, and then stabbing a cabin crew member in the neck.
About 45 minutes prior to arrival, pilots on United Airlines flight 2609 detected the alarm for the “a starboard side door located between the first class and coach sections” of the Boeing 757 had disarmed, according to View From The Wing.
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What Happened on this United Flight?
The handle on the door had reportedly been moved approximately a quarter of the way towards unlocked, and “the emergency slide arming lever had been moved to the 'disarmed' position.”
A flight attendant then confronted the individual about tampering with the door. The individual allegedly responded by asking if there were cameras proving it. According to court documents, the flight attendant then notified the captain that they believed the individual presented a threat to the aircraft, and that the captain needed to land as soon as possible.
The individual then approached a flight attendant and allegedly attempted to stab them with “a broken metal spoon” – and hit them on the neck three times. Passengers proceeded to restrained the individual. He was arrested as soon as the plane arrived in Boston, and he has been detained, pending a hearing which is scheduled to occur on March 9.
Eyewitnesses report that the man asked a fellow passenger where on the safety card it showed where the door handle was located during the flight attendants’ safety briefing prior to takeoff and that he was also seen pacing in a galley before allegedly attacking the flight attendant.
The individual has been charged with interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon, and attempted interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon. He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment as well as a $250,000 fine.
