Massachusetts man receives sentence for assaulting flight attendant with a broken spoon

Massachusetts Man Sentenced for In-Flight Incident

A man from Massachusetts received a 26-month prison sentence on Tuesday after an incident on a cross-country flight where he broke a metal spoon and attempted to stab a fellow passenger near the neck, as well as trying to open the emergency door of the plane.

Francisco Severo Torres, a resident of Leominster, pleaded guilty in May to one count of interference related to an event on United Airlines Flight 2609, which traveled from Los Angeles to Boston in March 2023. He reportedly attempted to disrupt the flight crew and flight attendants.

US District Judge Patty Saris stated that Torres would serve more than two years in addition to a five-year supervised release, during which he is prohibited from flying commercially.

According to prosecutors and eyewitness testimonies, Torres expressed erratic behavior, including threats, and tried to use a modified metal spoon as a weapon against the crew. It was noted that the plane was about 45 minutes away from Boston at the time.

One flight attendant observed that the emergency door lock handle had been tampered with and suspected Torres was involved. Although the cabin pressure keeps the doors sealed during flight, the threat was concerning.

Witnesses reported that Torres loudly claimed bizarre things, like asserting his father was Dracula and expressing a desire to be shot so he could be hired, along with threatening to kill everyone aboard.

He allegedly punched a male flight attendant, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Torres was eventually subdued by fellow passengers and taken into custody once the flight landed at Boston Logan International Airport.

Interestingly, records reveal that Torres had previously received treatment at a mental health facility, and local law enforcement mentioned they had encountered him multiple times since 2014. When he was brought before a judge following his arrest, it was determined that he was not mentally fit to stand trial and required further treatment.