Passenger tries to open door of American flight and attacks crew

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A passenger allegedly tried to open an airplane door on a flight between the US cities of Los Angeles and Boston. He then attacked the crew of United Airlines flight UA2609 with a broken metal spoon, Massachusetts prosecutors said Monday. Francisco Severo T.*, 33, now faces life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 (about 234,000 francs).

According to the indictment, the flight crew received an alarm about a misaligned latch on one of the plane’s doors about 45 minutes before landing. The passenger had previously been observed at the door. When asked about the missing bolt, the man allegedly asked if cameras had captured the incident. Finally, he allegedly attacked one of the flight attendants in the neck with the broken spoon.

Upon arrival in Boston, the attacker was immediately taken into custody, it said. According to the public prosecutor, several passengers reported during later interrogations that the man had asked a fellow passenger where the door handle was before take-off. In addition, according to witness statements, he would have walked up and down the galley with the spoon before the attack. US media, citing United Airlines, reported that no one was injured in the incident on Sunday. (SDA/kes)

* Name known to editors

Source: Blick