BOSTON — An incident occurred at Boston Logan International Airport when a passenger on a JetBlue flight, which was taxiing for takeoff, unexpectedly opened an exit door, leading to a chaotic scene among the travelers. The individual involved, identified as Angel Luis Torres Morales from Puerto Rico, faced charges in the East Boston division of the local court for obstructing aircraft operations. On Wednesday, he entered a not guilty plea, with his next court date scheduled for March 4.

The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the overwing exit door was opened suddenly, as reported by Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Tim McGuirk. The action triggered the deployment of an emergency slide on JetBlue flight 161, which was preparing to travel from Boston to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Witnesses described a scene of confusion and fear, with several passengers reacting in panic. One traveler, Fred Wynn, mentioned that there was a sense of alarm among the passengers as they urged the individual to stop his actions. Wynn added that the man, who had been seated behind him, appeared to be in a heated argument with his girlfriend over the phone just before he bolted down the aisle toward the door.

In response to the situation, JetBlue officials confirmed that the flight required a transfer to another aircraft, allowing it to eventually reach its destination in San Juan safely. The incident raised concerns about passenger safety and the importance of remaining calm during flight procedures.