The JetBlue pilot whose in-flight behavior led to an emergency landing in Texas on Tuesday has been suspended pending further investigation.
Clayton Osbon was captain of JetBlue Flight 191 from New York to Las Vegas, which was diverted to Amarillo after crew and passengers restrained him.
Osbon has worked for the company for 12 years, according to JetBlue spokeswoman Tamara Young.
CEO Dave Barger said he has known Osbon for “a long time” and that he has always been a “consummate professional.”
On NBC’s TODAY Show, Barger was asked about Osbon’s strange behavior, which allegedly involved him screaming, “They’re coming to take us down,” and attempting to get back into the cockpit after his co-pilot had wisely locked him out.
“What happened at altitude is we had a medical situation,” he said, but he added, “it became a security situation.”
Barger said the captain was receiving the necessary medical care while in the custody of the FBI.
Earlier reports seemed to indicate that Obson had a panic attack while in-flight.
No federal charges have been filed so far, according to Kathy Colvin, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas.
“We’re still investigating,” said Lydia Maese, an FBI spokeswoman. “We coordinated with the FAA, TSA, Amarillo Police Department and the airport police.”
Osbon has not made a public statement regarding the incident.
Related articles
- JetBlue Pilot Clayton Osbon Had a Panic Attack (VIDEO) (blippitt.com)
- Clayton Osbon, JetBlue Pilot, Restrained By Passengers After In-Flight Meltdown (thehollywoodgossip.com)
- Who is JetBlue pilot Clayton Osbon? (myfoxphoenix.com)
- Panic Attack Blamed for JetBlue Pilot’s Erratic Behavior (fox4kc.com)
Get Blippitt via RSS feed, Facebook, Twitter, Google+,
and be sure to get our Daily Email Broadcast.
