Passengers Aboard Flight With JetBlue Pilot Who Had Apparent Meltdown File Lawsuit
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Ten passengers are suing JetBlue 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 him to fly.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in state Supreme Court in Queens. It contends the airline should have known that Clayton Osbon was unfit to fly.
The 10 plaintiffs, all from the metropolitan New York area, are seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress.
An airline spokesman did not immediately comment.
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Osbon was indicted in April on one count of interference with a flight crew. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Passengers had to restrain Osbon after authorities said he flipped out during a Las Vegas-bound flight from John F. Kennedy Airport on March 27.
According to witnesses, Osbon ran through the cabin screaming about religion and terrorists and telling passengers to "say your prayers." Osbon talked about sins in Las Vegas, allegedly saying at one point "We're not going to Vegas."
Passengers then tackled Osbon and the crew made an emergency landing in Amarillo, Texas.
A flight attendant's ribs were bruised as passengers tried to restrain Osbon, but no one on board was seriously hurt.
Osbon faces a hearing Friday morning in Amarillo to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial.
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
