The Massachusetts State Police were summoned to Boston’s Logan International Airport on Tuesday evening following an alarming incident involving a JetBlue passenger. The individual in question had opened an aircraft door, triggering the deployment of the emergency slide, according to reports from both the police and the airline provided to CNN.
The event unfolded around 7:30 p.m. when authorities were alerted to the disruption on JetBlue flight 161. A passenger, reportedly desiring to disembark the aircraft, unexpectedly and abruptly opened the aircraft door, as stated by law enforcement in an official communication. Prompt action from fellow passengers prevented further escalation of the situation, as they managed to restrain the individual until state troopers arrived to take the individual into custody for further questioning. The detained passenger is anticipated to be charged and is scheduled for arraignment at East Boston District Court on Wednesday morning, the police disclosed.
JetBlue acknowledged the incident, attributing it to a customer who, for reasons unknown, accessed an overwing exit as the aircraft was taxiing at Logan Airport, leading to the emergency slide deployment. The airline redirected any additional inquiries to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. The individual at the center of the episode remained onboard the aircraft until the police responded to the scene.
This occurrence comes on the heels of a distressing discovery earlier in the day at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where two individuals were found deceased in the wheel well of a JetBlue plane that had traveled from New York. These incidents contribute to a series of recent stowaway cases that have raised concerns regarding aviation security. Additionally, a separate incident involved the uncovering of a body in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that had flown from Chicago to Maui on Christmas Eve.
Authorities have refrained from releasing the identity of the individual involved in the Boston flight incident while charges are being finalized. Initial assessments indicate that this was an “isolated incident,” with no indication that it poses a threat to public safety, authorities assured.
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