A man from Leominster, Massachusetts was sentenced in federal court for attempting to open an emergency exit door and attacking a flight attendant during a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston.
Francisco Severo Torres, 35, received a sentence of time served—about 26 months in prison—followed by five years of supervised release. As part of his sentence, Torres is barred from flying on commercial aircraft during the supervised release period. He had pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. Torres was initially charged after his arrest at Boston Logan International Airport in March 2023 and indicted by a federal grand jury that September.
The incident occurred on March 5, 2023, when Torres was a passenger on the cross-country flight. According to court records, about 45 minutes before landing, the cockpit received an alarm indicating that the starboard side emergency exit door between first class and coach had been disarmed. A flight attendant found the door’s locking handle moved partially toward the unlocked position and the emergency slide arming lever set to “disarmed.” After securing both, the attendant informed the captain and crew.
Another flight attendant reported seeing Torres near the door and suspected he had tampered with it. When confronted about this suspicion, Torres asked if there were cameras showing him at the door. The captain was notified that Torres might be a threat and advised to land as soon as possible.
Shortly after this confrontation, Torres left his seat and approached two flight attendants standing near the same door. One attendant saw him mouthing words that could not be heard. Passenger video later showed Torres yelling threats such as he would “kill every man on this plane” and “I’m taking over this plane.” He then attempted to stab one of the attendants in the neck three times with a broken metal spoon. Passengers helped subdue Torres until law enforcement took him into custody upon arrival in Boston.
Passengers told investigators that before takeoff, Torres had asked where on the safety card it showed the location of door handles and was seen pacing before launching his attack.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble of Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox announced today’s sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum prosecuted the case.
