JetBlue passenger opens exit door as flight is taxiing for takeoff at Boston airport

Jeff Monheit, Associated Press,

BOSTON – A person on board a plane at Boston Logan International Airport that was taxiing for takeoff suddenly opened an exit door and was quickly restrained by other passengers, authorities said.

The JetBlue passenger was expected to face charges and be arraigned Wednesday, Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Tim McGuirk said in a statement Tuesday night. The passenger’s name was not released.

The door was opened about 7:30 p.m. β€œsuddenly and without warning,” McGuirk said.

The opening of the overwing exit door caused an emergency slide to deploy aboard JetBlue flight 161 from Boston to San Juan, the airline said in a statement.

Some passengers panicked.

“They were like freaking out,” passenger Fred Wynn toldΒ WCVB-TV. β€œThey were like, β€˜Stop, stop’!”

Wynn said the passenger was seated behind him and was arguing with his girlfriend over a cellphone, then β€œthe the guy got up and ran down the aisle” toward the door.

JetBlue said the flight was eventually swapped to another aircraft and landed in San Juan.