Crime

A 24-year-old Puerto Rican man opened the emergency exit while the plane was preparing to take off, deploying the inflatable slide.

A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court to forcing open an emergency exit door on a JetBlue flight as it prepared for takeoff, abruptly halting the departure of the plane last year.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts, authorities charged Angel Luis Morales Torres with one count of damaging or disabling an aircraft. 

U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor scheduled a sentencing hearing for Aug. 4. A federal grand jury indicted Morales in March 2025. 

On Jan. 7, 2025, Morales was a passenger aboard a JetBlue flight scheduled to fly from Boston to Puerto Rico, the D.A.’s office said. While the aircraft was on the taxiway preparing to take off, Morales stood up from his seat, ran down the aisle, and entered an empty emergency exit row. 

The D.A. says Morales proceeded to attempt to open the emergency exit door. A flight attendant attempted to restrain Morales, and another passenger eventually tackled him. 

However, the D.A. said that Morales was successful in opening the emergency door, causing the inflatable slide to deploy, and rendering the aircraft inoperable. 

 The charge of damaging or disabling an aircraft carries a maximum of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.