The passenger who attempted to open a JetBlue wing door just before takeoff and climb out at Logan Airport has been identified. Massachusetts State Police arrested the suspect, Angel Luis Torres Morales, 23, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on one count of interfering with the operation of an aircraft. JetBlue Flight 161 was reportedly taxiing on the runway Tuesday evening, ready to head to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when Morales opened a door on the wing exit, triggering the emergency slide to deploy.
East Boston municipal court judge Debra DelVecchio ordered Morales held on $500 bail and to not travel except to and from Puerto Rico for court appearances and to continue with mental health assessment and treatment including medication. Morales is due back in court on March 4 for a pre-trial hearing. “Incidents like this are extremely disruptive to passengers and to flight crews and to airport personnel, not to mention the criminal consequences for the person causing the disturbance,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement after Morales’ arraignment Wednesday afternoon.
The report of the frightening sudden exit attempt came in at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk said, with audio from the JetBlue pilot saying he could “hear the passengers screaming” but a “LEO” — law enforcement officer — was onboard and immediately jumped into action.
“Other passengers restrained the individual until Troopers arrived on scene to detain the.
