JetBlue suspect who opened plane door before takeoff at Boston Logan Airport identified

Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald on Jan 9, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOSTON — The passenger who attempted to open a JetBlue wing door just before takeoff and climb out at Logan Airport has been identified.

Massachusetts State Police arrested the suspect, Angel Luis Torres Morales, 23, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on one count of interfering with the operation of an aircraft.

JetBlue Flight 161 was reportedly taxiing on the runway Tuesday evening, ready to head to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when Morales opened a door on the wing exit, triggering the emergency slide to deploy.

East Boston municipal court judge Debra DelVecchio ordered Morales held on $500 bail and to not travel except to and from Puerto Rico for court appearances and to continue with mental health assessment and treatment including medication.

Morales is due back in court on March 4 for a pre-trial hearing.

“Incidents like this are extremely disruptive to passengers and to flight crews and to airport personnel, not to mention the criminal consequences for the person causing the disturbance,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement after Morales’ arraignment Wednesday afternoon.

The report of the frightening sudden exit attempt came in at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk said, with audio from the JetBlue pilot saying he could “hear the passengers screaming” but a “LEO” — law enforcement officer — was onboard and immediately jumped into action.

“Other passengers restrained the individual until Troopers arrived on scene to detain them for further questioning,” McGuirk said in a statement.

Morales’ mother told reporters that her son had been in Boston for several days visiting his friend who was inducted into the Air Force. His attorney described that Morales has suffered from mental health issues and had a psychiatric episode on the plane Tuesday evening.

None of the passengers suffered injuries, officials said. The chaotic incident delayed the flight about three hours until the plane departed around 10:30 p.m.

Authorities took Morales to an area hospital Tuesday night before his arraignment.

Fred Wynn, a passenger on the flight, told WCVB that the incident stemmed from a fight between Torres Morales and his girlfriend over a cellphone, which turned physical.

“They were behind me arguing,” Wynn said. “Then the guy got up and ran down the aisle. Then he went to the door and as soon as the door was open, the air marshal tackled him. Once they got him to the ground, I think everybody felt safe.”

The State Police called it “an isolated incident,” according to a preliminary investigation.

_______