CHICAGO- A United Airlines (UA) passenger, Francisco Severo Torres, pleaded guilty to attacking a flight attendant on a Los Angeles (LAX) to Boston (BOS) flight in 2023, resulting in a 5 year commercial flight banned.
The event on United Airlines Flight from Los Angeles to Boston raised concerns about in-flight safety and crew response protocols, leading to Torres’ sentencing and ongoing discussions about passenger mental health screening.
Photo: Andrew E. Cohen | FlickrUnited Airlines Passenger Banned
Roughly 4 hours into the 5-hour United Airlines (UA) flight, flight attendants noticed irregularities at an emergency exit. The door handle had been tampered with, and the emergency slide was disarmed, clear indicators of potential sabotage.
Surveillance and crew observations soon identified Torres as the suspect, as he had lingered near the emergency door.
Crew members confronted Torres and informed the captain of the possible threat. Minutes later, Torres escalated the situation.
He rose from his seat, yelled threats, declaring he would “kill every man on this plane”, and lunged at a flight attendant with a metal spoon he had sharpened.
He struck the crew member three times before being restrained by fellow passengers and staff.
Upon landing at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Torres was arrested. Initially declared mentally unfit for trial, he was committed to a psychiatric institution.
Months later, following a mental health reassessment, Torres was deemed competent to stand trial, although his defense cited anosognosia, a condition where individuals are unaware of their own mental illness.
Photo: Clément AlloingLegal Outcome
In May 2025, Torres entered a plea deal admitting to interference with a flight crew involving a dangerous weapon.
The charge carried the potential for life imprisonment. However, US District Court Judge Patti B. Saris sentenced Torres to time already served and five years of supervised release. According to PYOK, the court also imposed a 5-year ban on flying commercially.
While Torres is now barred from boarding commercial aircraft, no central database exists to track individuals prohibited from flying. As a result, enforcement of the ban relies heavily on airline cooperation and awareness, posing logistical challenges for the aviation industry.
Photo: Duncan Kirk | https://www.flickr.com/photos/182528221@N07/Airline and Airport Safety
This incident has renewed concerns over mid-flight safety and the limitations in tracking high-risk passengers post-incident. Despite the seriousness of Torres’ actions, the lack of a unified no-fly registry underscores gaps in the system.
Airlines and regulators may push for reforms, especially after high-profile cases that expose vulnerabilities in passenger screening and post-conviction enforcement.
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