A United passenger was arrested after opening the emergency exit and sliding down the chute while the plane was boarding

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February 26, 2018 3:42 PM

The United Airlines passenger claimed that he had boarded the wrong flight, but United confirmed the man had boarded the correct flight.

A passenger on
The man claimed that he had boarded the wrong flight before he was arrested, but United confirmed the man had boarded the correct flight.
The plane was evacuated after the incident and passengers were moved to another plane.

A passenger on United Airlines flight 1640 to Tampa Bay deployed and used the emergency exit slide while the flight was boarding at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday evening, NBC New York first reported.

According to the Port Authority, the man, Troy Fattun, told flight attendants he was on the wrong flight after boarding it, though United confirmed that Fattun was ticketed for the flight. The flight attendants then asked him to show them his boarding pass, but Fattun said he didn't have it and attempted to enter one of the plane's bathrooms. After he was told they were unavailable at that time, he opened an emergency exit and deployed and used the emergency slide.

He was arrested by the Port Authority on the tarmac and charged with criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and interference with transportation. He is currently being held at Essex County Jail. No one was injured during the incident.

According to a Twitter user, the flight was delayed for three hours before the man used the emergency slide. The flight was delayed for a little over five hours total, according to Flightaware.com. After the incident, the plane was evacuated and passengers were moved to another plane.

In January, a passenger on a delayed Ryanair flight also climbed onto a wing before the plane deboarded the plane in Malaga, Spain. The passenger was reportedly frustrated by having to wait to get off the plane. He was also arrested after the incident.

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