Puerto Rican Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging Aircraft

BOSTON - A Puerto Rican man pleaded guilty today in connection with 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, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of damaging or disabling an aircraft. U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor scheduled sentencing for Aug. 4, 2026. 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.

The charge of damaging or disabling an aircraft carries a maximum of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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 is prosecuting the case.