A passenger aboard a JetBlue flight caused a stir on Tuesday evening when he abruptly opened an exit door while the plane was taxiing for takeoff at Boston Logan International Airport. Video of the passenger being arrested is below.
The incident occurred around 7:30 PM, triggering a chain of events that left passengers startled and led to an emergency response.
According to Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Tim McGuirk, the passenger pried open the overwing exit door “suddenly and without warning” while the aircraft was on the tarmac. The unexpected action activated an emergency slide, adding to the chaos onboard.
In a dramatic turn, fellow passengers quickly restrained the individual, preventing further disruption. “They were freaking out. They were like, ‘Stop, stop!'” said Fred Wynn, a passenger who witnessed the incident.
Wynn described the passenger as someone who had been arguing with his girlfriend on the phone before running toward the exit door. “He got up and ran down the aisle toward the overwing door,” Wynn explained.
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The identity of the passenger involved has not been disclosed, but authorities confirmed that he was arrested and expected to be charged. He will face arraignment on Wednesday, according to police reports.
After the incident, passengers were moved to another plane, which eventually completed its journey to San Juan, Puerto Rico, as initially scheduled. JetBlue confirmed that the situation was promptly managed, with no injuries reported.
This unsettling event comes just weeks after a similar emergency door incident aboard an Alaska Airlines flight. A passenger opened the emergency exit after landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and climbed onto the wing of the plane. The woman was later escorted off the wing and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Both incidents occur amid heightened concerns over aviation safety, following a series of alarming accidents, including a tragic crash in South Korea.
Recal that on December 29, a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok crash-landed in Muan, South Korea, resulting in the deaths of 179 people, with only two crew members surviving.
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