This is absolutely terrifying.
Video footage is going viral of a man who has been identified as 33-year-old Francisco Severo Torres from Leominster, Massachusetts going berserk on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston this past Sunday, threatening to “kill every man on this plane.”
According to Daily Mail, Torres has been charged with one count of interference with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon, after he tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken spoon. He reportedly stabbed at the man’s collar and tie three times, although it appears as though no injury was sustained.
In the video footage, you can hear Torres constantly asking for Homeland Security to identify themselves on the plane:
“So where’s Homeland Security with the gun? Because I’m waiting for them to point the gun at me so I can show everybody that I won’t die when I take every bullet in that clip, to wherever in my body they shoot it, and then I’ll kill every man on this plane.
So where are they? Where’s Homeland Security?”
He continued to rant, and threaten several other passengers on the flight.
“Where are they diverting us? Because wherever they do, there’s going to be a bloodbath everywhere. You can run away if you want. I won’t kill you.
I’m Balthazar. Or put up your hands, because I’m Balthazar… since I’m taking over this plane.'”
According to the Gospels, Balthazar was one of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus in the manger.
Finally, somebody approaches Torres and attempts to grab the broken spoon from his hand, and he proceeds to turn around and charge straight for the front of the plane and attacks a flight attendant, which I believe is the one who got stabbed three times in the neck (although not certain).
Luckily, a group of passengers ran up and restrained him, along with flight attendants.
And on top of all the other insane decisions he made, he also attempted to open the emergency exit door while 30,000 feet in the air. A warning that the door had been tampered with is what prompted flight attendants to confront the man in the first place.
A criminal complaint stated:
“Torres told investigators he went into the bathroom on the plane and broke a spoon in half to make the weapon. When he came out of the bathroom Torres went into the galley, disarmed the door, and tried to open it unsuccessfully.
Torres admitted to knowing that if he opened the door many people would die.”
Luckily, cabin pressure makes it impossible to open the door while the plane is in flight (phew).
Interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon could result in life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, along with a fine up to $250,000.
I mean, clearly he is suffering from some kind of mental health issue, so hopefully he can get the help he needs, but until then, they need to keep him off the streets, and definitely off of planes.
Also, props to the man who stood up to try and shut this guy down… if someone would’ve taken him down sooner, a flight attendant wouldn’t have been stabbed in the neck.
