JetBlue Flight 191

JetBlue Airways

Industry	Airline
Founded	February 11, 1998 (1998-02-11)
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Air transportation
Website	jetblue.com

JetBlue Flight 191 was a domestic passenger service operating between New York City and Las Vegas, United States. On March 27, 2012, the Airbus A320 assigned to this flight diverted to Amarillo, Texas after the captain exhibited signs of a mental health crisis, displaying erratic behavior and making alarming remarks. The first officer secured the cockpit by locking the captain out, and both crew members and passengers physically restrained him. No lives were lost during the incident.

Incident

Departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport toward McCarran International Airport, JetBlue Flight 191 encountered serious difficulties when Captain Clayton Osbon (aged 49) began to act unpredictably, voicing concerns about terrorists and referencing the September 11 attacks, suggesting a possible psychological breakdown. First Officer Jason Dowd (41) grew increasingly alarmed as Osbon uttered unsettling phrases such as "We need to take a leap of faith" and "I can't be held responsible when this plane crashes." Osbon also dimmed essential flight instruments and shouted at air traffic controllers while reprimanding Dowd for communicating externally.

Perceiving that Osbon was no longer capable of safely operating the aircraft, Dowd proposed involving an off-duty JetBlue captain who was onboard as a passenger, but Osbon disregarded this suggestion. Osbon then abruptly left his seat, entered the forward lavatory against standard procedures, and became confrontational upon returning. He attempted to regain access to the cockpit; however, Dowd secured the door and disabled emergency entry to prevent him from re-entering. Osbon roamed through the cabin, confronting passengers and making statements about religious and geopolitical issues, including claims of a potential bomb onboard.

Using the public address system, Dowd directed passengers and flight attendants to restrain Osbon. Four flight attendants along with several passengers subdued him using seatbelt extenders. The off-duty pilot joined Dowd in the cockpit, and the aircraft was diverted to Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, touching down approximately 20 minutes later. Following landing, Osbon received medical attention and was taken into custody on charges of "interference with a flight crew."

Osbon had been employed by JetBlue for twelve years before being suspended after this event. His education includes graduation from Nathaniel Hawthorne College, an aviation-focused institution in New Hampshire, following studies at Carnegie Mellon University.

Trial and lawsuits

On July 3, 2012, Judge Mary Lou Robinson of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled that Osbon was not guilty by reason of insanity on charges related to interfering with the flight crew. He was committed to a mental health facility in Fort Worth for ongoing treatment.

After undergoing evaluation at a federal psychiatric center in North Carolina, Osbon was released on November 9, 2012, under strict conditions including continued psychiatric care, adherence to prescribed medication, and probation supervision. Judge Robinson acknowledged the seriousness of his condition but noted that he benefited from a supportive environment.

In March 2015, Osbon filed a $14.9 million lawsuit against JetBlue, accusing the airline of neglecting its duty to verify his mental fitness for flying and thereby putting passengers and crew at risk. This legal action came shortly after the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525. Additionally, a passenger lawsuit connected to this incident was resolved in April of that year; however, the settlement details were not made public.

Causes of illness

The exact reason behind Osbon's mental collapse has not been established. Potential factors considered include the emergence of a psychotic condition, neurological dysfunction, or side effects from medication. In his 2015 legal action against JetBlue, Osbon claimed the episode resulted from a complex partial brain seizure.

In popular culture

This event was depicted in an installment of World's Worst Flights.

See also

• List of air rage incidents