Passenger Arrested For Opening Emergency Door While Plane Was Taxiing

A passenger on a JetBlue flight was arrested Tuesday (January 7) after allegedly opening an emergency exit door while the plane was taxiing at Boston's Logan International Airport. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on a flight bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico. The passenger, whose identity has not been released, opened the overwing exit door, deploying the emergency slide, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Massachusetts State Police were called to the scene, and the passenger was restrained by other passengers until authorities arrived. The individual is expected to face charges and will be arraigned in East Boston District Court on Wednesday, as stated by a Massachusetts state police spokesperson, Tim McGuirk.

JetBlue confirmed the incident, stating that the flight was eventually swapped to another aircraft and continued to San Juan. The airline expressed appreciation for the passengers' understanding during the situation. NBC News reported that the incident followed an argument between the passenger and his girlfriend, according to a fellow passenger, Fred Wynn.

Authorities have indicated that this was an isolated incident and does not pose a threat to public safety.