A local man accused of trying to stab a flight attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon, and also trying to open the plane’s emergency exit door has pleaded guilty.

Francisco Torres, 34, of Leominster, has pleaded guilty to one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The incident on the United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston was back on March 5, 2023.

About 45 minutes before the plane was set to land, the flight crew received an alarm in the cockpit that a starboard side door located between the first class and coach sections of the aircraft was disarmed.

A flight attendant reported that he saw Torres near the door, and believed Torres had tampered with the door. A flight attendant then confronted Torres about tampering with the door. He allegedly responded by asking if there were cameras showing that he had done so.

The flight attendant then notified the captain that they believed Torres posed a threat to the aircraft, and that the captain needed to land the aircraft as soon as possible.

Torres then allegedly got out of his seat and approached the starboard side door where two flight attendants were standing in the aisle. One of the flight attendants saw Torres mouthing something that he could not hear.

Video taken by a passenger depicts Torres yelling at points that he would “kill every man on this plane” and “I’m taking over this plane.”

Torres then thrust toward one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times.

Passengers then tackled Torres and he was restrained with the assistance of flight crew. Torres was immediately taken into custody upon the flight’s arrival to Boston.

During interviews, passengers reported that Torres asked a fellow passenger where on the safety card it showed where the door handle was located during the flight attendants’ safety briefing before takeoff, and that Torres was seen pacing in a galley before attacking the flight attendant.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 17.

The charge of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon can lead to a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.