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On Sunday, March 5, 2023, United Airlines flight 2609 from Los Angeles to Boston turned into a violent scene. A passenger, identified as Francisco Severo Torres, 33, attacked a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon. And was subdued by passengers.

The Department of Justice has charged Torres with one count of interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon.

The incident occurred toward the end of the flight.  Torres tried but failed to open an emergency exit door. And when a flight attendant confronted him about tampering with the door, Torres became more agitated and started ranting. Then attempted to stab the flight attendant in the neck.

Video on United Airlines flight 

A video of the incident was posted on Twitter on Breaking Aviation News and Videos. It shows Torres shouting from his seat about how he is "taking over the plane" and threatening to kill everyone onboard.

"I will kill every man on this plane," Torres screamed. "Tell them to bring SWAT to shoot me down because they're going to have to shoot me down today."

Other passengers tried to calm him down. He continued shouting and jumped into the aisle with the broken metal spoon. And attacked the flight attendant. 

It took at least nine passengers to help the flight attendant tackle Torres to the ground. And he was finally subdued with zip ties securing his hands and feet.

Passenger Lisa Olson captured the footage of the incident and reported that the passengers were "very appreciative that they jumped into action so quickly," of the men that restrained Torres.

Simik Ghookasian, another passenger who helped to stop Torres, said that "that guy was really strong and was really resisting."

FAA reports unruly behavior increasing 

Torres was arrested after the flight landed safely at Boston Logan International Airport. Court documents reveal that Torres had attempted to make the spoon weapon in the bathroom during the flight and that he had tried to disarm the exit door because he wanted to jump out of the plane. He is due in court on March 9, 2023.

The incident is not Torres' first encounter with law enforcement. He has a history of threatening behavior and was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in 2019. 

The attack has raised concerns about airline safety and the screening of passengers, with calls for stricter regulations and more extensive background checks.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a surge in unruly passenger behavior in recent years. In 2021 alone over 6,000 such inflight incidents were reported. 

The agency has responded by imposing fines and stricter penalties for such behavior and increasing security measures to protect flight crews and passengers.