Puerto Rican Man Sentenced for Damaging Aircraft

BOSTON - A Puerto Rican man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for an incident in which he opened an emergency exit door while aboard a JetBlue flight preparing for takeoff from Boston to Puerto Rico.

Angel Luis Morales Torres, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor to one year of probation. Morales Torres was also ordered to pay approximately $60,000 in restitution. In May 2026, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of damaging or disabling an aircraft. Morales was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.

On Jan. 7, 2025, Morales was a passenger aboard a JetBlue flight scheduled to fly from Boston to Puerto Rico. While the aircraft was on the taxiway preparing for takeoff, Morales stood up from his seat, ran down the aisle and entered an empty emergency exit row, where he began attempting to open the emergency exit door. A flight attendant attempted to restrain Morales and he was eventually tackled by another passenger. Prior to being restrained, Morales managed to open the emergency door, causing the emergency inflatable slide to deploy, and rendering the aircraft inoperable.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.