Police arrest Boston JetBlue passenger who opened emergency exit

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While some passengers aboard a flight ready to depart Boston Logan International Airport Tuesday night panicked when a man suddenly threw open an emergency exit, others sprung into action and restrained him.

The Massachusetts State Police, whose officers arrived to arrest the unnamed man shortly after, said it was an isolated incident, per CNN and multiple other media outlets.

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The Federal Aviation Administration, which has opened an investigation into the incident, said Flight 161 bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, was taxiing towards takeoff around 7:30 p.m. when a passenger opened the exit and deployed the slide on the Airbus A320.

The person was quickly restrained by other passengers.

Fred Wynn, a passenger who spoke directly to WBZ-TV from the aircraft, implied the incident was preceded by a spat between a boyfriend and girlfriend seated behind him.

He told an NBC Boston in another interview that the man wanted to see his partner’s phone but “she wouldn’t let him see.”

He said the man got upset, walked down the centre aisle and ripped the door “completely off.”

The incident was upsetting to many onboard.

“They were like freaking out,” Wynn recounted. “They were like, ‘Stop, stop!’”

The accused is expected to be arraigned today.

The National Post has contacted both police and the airline for comment and additional information.

Earlier this week, two bodies were found in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at a South Florida airport.

It was the second time over the past month that a body has been found in the wheel well of an airplane. In late December, a body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane that arrived in Maui from Chicago.

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