US man indicted on charges of trying to open emergency door, attacking crew on United flight with spoon

Francisco Severo Torres is charged with attacking a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon and attempting to open an airliner’s emergency door. Photo / AP

A Massachusetts man was indicted Wednesday for allegedly attacking a flight attendant in March with a broken metal spoon and trying to open an airliner’s emergency door on a cross-country flight, federal prosecutors said.

Francisco Severo Torres, of Leominster, Massachussetts, was indicted on one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon on United Airlines Flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston.

In Torres’ last court appearance in July, a federal judge ruled he was not competent to stand trial. Magistrate Judge Judith Dein, said that based on a mental health evaluation of Torres and her own observations, Torres needed further treatment.

Francisco Severo Torres is charged with attacking a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon and attempting to open an airliner’s emergency door. Photo / AP

Federal public defender Joshua Hanye, who represented Torres in that court appearance, could not be reached for comment.

According to prosecutor and witness accounts, Torres went on a midair rant and tried to stab a crewmember.

The plane was about 45 minutes from Boston when an alarm told crew a side door on the aircraft was disarmed, according to court documents. Flight attendants noticed the door’s locking handle had been moved and believed Torres had moved the handle. Cabin pressure during flight prevents airplane doors from opening.

Francisco Severo Torres went on a mid-air rant, according to witnesses. Photo / AP

Torres started loudly rambling that his father was Dracula, that he wanted to be shot so he could be reincarnated and that he would kill everyone on board, another passenger said.

He punched a male flight attendant, who felt the metal spoon in Torres’ hand hit him on his shirt collar and tie three times, according to court documents. No one was injured.

Torres was eventually subdued and restrained by other passengers. He was arrested when the flight landed at Boston Logan International Airport, authorities said.

If convicted, Torres could be sentenced up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to US$250,000 ($420,000).

Torres has spent time in mental health facilities, according to court records. The police chief in his hometown said officers have dealt with him several times since 2014, mostly over family issues and mental health episodes.