A 33-year-old man tried to open an emergency exit on an United Airlines flight from Los Angeles, then tried to stab an attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon, authorities reported.

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Other passengers on the Boston-bound flight Sunday, March 5, tackled the man, who was arrested upon landing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts said in a news release.

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Francisco Severo Torres of Leominster, Massachusetts, faces a charge of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon, according to the release.

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An alarm notified the flight crew about 45 minutes before landing that an emergency exit door had been tampered with, prosecutors said.

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An attendant discovered a handle unlocking the door had been moved and an emergency slide arming lever had been moved to the “disarmed” position, the release said.

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Another flight attendant reported seeing Torres near the emergency exit earlier in the flight, prosecutors said.

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When an attendant confronted him, Torres asked if cameras showed him tampering with the door, the release said.

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The attendant notified the pilot that “Torres posed a threat to the aircraft,” according to the release.

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A few minutes later, Torres approached two flight attendants and tried to stab one in the neck three times with a broken metal spoon, prosecutors said.

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Other passengers tackled Torres and the crew restrained him until he was arrested upon landing in Boston, the release said.

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Passengers later told investigators that Torres had inquired about a safety card showing the emergency exits and was seen pacing in the galley area, prosecutors said.

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He faces a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted, the release said.

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In a criminal complaint, investigators said Torres told them he intended to jump out of the plane and attacked the flight attendant in self-defense, USA Today reported.

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In a statement to ABC News, United Airlines praised the “quick action” of the flight crew. The flight landed safely and no injuries were reported, the airline said.

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