Passengers Sue Airline Pilot for Midair Breakdown
Ten passengers traveling via JetBlue Fliers are suing the airline over a flight during which a pilot had to be physically restrained after screaming about religion and terrorism. They claim the airline was "grossly negligent" in allowing the captain to fly.
The New York lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in the state Supreme Court in Queens and an early copy of it was provided to The Associated Press. The Lawsuit claims that the airline was negligent and shouldn’t have permitted the captain to fly in the first place.
The lawsuit contends the airline should have known that the pilot, Clayton Osbon, was unfit to fly. The JetBlue Flier airline spokesman did not immediately give comment regarding the matter.
Clayton Osbon faces federal charges of interfering with a flight crew over the disruption aboard a March 27 New York-to-Las Vegas flight. Because of the incident, the plane made an emergency landing in Amarillo, Texas.
The airline passengers, who served as the primary witnesses, say Osborn ran screaming through the cabin until some male passengers wrestled him to the floor and subdued him.