Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Rumours & News
Reload this Page >

JetBlue Pilot Threatens To Crash Plane

Wikiposts
Search
Rumours & News Reporting Points that may affect our jobs or lives as professional pilots. Also, items that may be of interest to professional pilots.

JetBlue Pilot Threatens To Crash Plane

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 21st May 2010, 02:51
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
JetBlue Pilot Threatens To Crash Plane

May 20, 2010 10:00 pm US Eastern

JetBlue Pilot Threatens To Crash Plane

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

A JetBlue pilot threatened to crash the plane he was set to fly out of Logan Airport Thursday afternoon, a source has told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

The pilot, who has not been identified, was taken into custody at Logan for allegedly sending an email to his girlfriend in which he said if they did not reconcile their relationship, he was going to crash the plane.

The officer was questioned by the FBI at the airport, and taken to a Boston hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Authorities reportedly found the email on the pilot's phone.

A government officials familiar with the case says TSA agents and state police were called to "interview a pilot who indicated that he was unfit for duty. During the interview, the pilot voluntarily agreed to to depart the airport and seek appropriate care."

JetBlue released a statement at 8:35 p.m. saying that one of their pilots was removed for "health-related reasons."

Bryan Baldwin, manager of corporate communications for JetBlue, wrote in an email to WBZ-TV, "At no point were any customers or aircraft in danger. We are working closely with Boston authorities to ensure our crew member receives appropriate medical attention."

Baldwin said the company will not provide any additional details.

Airport officials confirmed the TSA and FAA are investigating.

JetBlue Pilot Threatens To Crash Plane Leaving From Boston If Girlfriend Doesn't Reconcile - wbztv.com
Airbubba is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 05:33
  #2 (permalink)  
The Cooler King
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: In the Desert
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The TSA / FAA / Government knee-jerk reaction to this will be great!

"Pilots Banned From Having Significant Others"
Farrell is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 05:58
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: In Frozen Chunks (Cloud Cuckoo Land)
Age: 17
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't be silly Farrell.


Thats nowhere knee jerk enough.
This is much more in line with the relevant authorities thinking (or lack of):


"Pilots banned from flight decks"
blueloo is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 08:10
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: In my own little world
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
Now as well as giving up my toothpaste I suppose I will have to provide a copy of every e-mail I have sent since I last reported for duty. That or they will want remote access to my computer so I can be checked real time inbetween duties.
lurkio is online now  
Old 21st May 2010, 08:41
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: FL290
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Mental Health is usually ignored

http://www.qantaspilot.com/

" Qantas pilot's mental nightmare ..
1a sound asleep is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 08:43
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: last time I looked I was still here.
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
random substance abuse testing in crew rooms now to include e-mails. That, or a signed declaration that you are of sound mind and not about to fizz-off like an overloaded alcasellser.
RAT 5 is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 09:18
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: where the money is
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with all the skepticism about about media hype and possible knee-jerk reactions of the legislators, but: does anyone remember the Egyptair crash of a B767 out of New York some years ago? This was most probably a suicide (actually combined with a murder) of a bitter and frustrated F/O, as the FBI discovered (if I remember correctly).

I do understand the nervousness of anybody involved in flying safety and security when somebody, who intends to put an end to his/her life, is being trusted to steer a transport category aircraft.

Everyone who wants to follow the Existentialists theory of their only remaining freedom, a suicide, should do so in private and without involving too many others.
jetopa is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 10:10
  #8 (permalink)  
More bang for your buck
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: land of the clanger
Age: 82
Posts: 3,512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Egyptair crash of a B767
Can't find a reference but wasn't there also one in North Africa ( Algeria, Morroco? ) a few years ago? Crashed into the mountains I think, after his girlfriend ditched him.
green granite is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 10:12
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somwhere between 6 and 15 feet below ground level
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
...in which he said if they did not reconcile their relationship, he was going to crash the plane.
I can't help but notice the similarity in poor communication procedure with AAL2 at Kennedy. If he didn't get what he wanted, then he would do (whatever).

What's the proper phraseology for unequivocally declaring your intention to crash your plane? (Either ICAO or FAA.)

Ditchdigger is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 10:21
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Limbricht
Posts: 2,194
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Might have been more difficult in the days when there were at least 3 crew members on the FD, not to mention one or two jump seat riders. Now days, if you're desperate enough, you have an even chance of succeeding.
Avman is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 10:55
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Dubai - sand land.
Age: 55
Posts: 2,832
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also Air Botswana had their fleet of ATRs wiped out when a skipper with a grudge against management took one up single pilot and crashed it into the rest of the fleet on the apron at Gabs!! (Gabarone,FBSK)
White Knight is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 10:59
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Stuck in the middle...
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Also a SilkAir 737 in Indon; and the ubiquitous attempt by the off-duty, jump-seat paxing FedEx pilot.
Taildragger67 is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 12:41
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Grounded
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
green granite, were you thinking of this one?
Moroccan Pilot Killed 44 People In Suicide Crash
Capt.Oveur is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 12:42
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canada
Age: 40
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
green granite

You are reffering to the Royal Air Maroc ATR-42 that crashed in the mountains between Casablanca and Agadir...

Poor guy, many people can say stupid things they don't mean in those situations. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with him, it was probably just a desperate way to get the attention of the girl...
Jumbo744 is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 13:03
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX USA
Age: 62
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unless the authorities read everyone's email all the time, its difficult to understand how this exchange could have been caught so quickly? Should the title instead read "Secret Global Spy Net Nabs Suicidal Pilot?
md80fanatic is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 13:51
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: VA, USA
Age: 58
Posts: 578
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not a big email spy conspiricy

...it appears that the pilot's girlfriend, who is a flight attendant, was the person who tipped off authorities.
From reading the above you might be fooled into thinking that the "authorities" somehow discovered this threat from some kind of covert spy operation where all email is being tracked...

Nothing of the sort. Girlfriend (also an FA) reported him. Simple.

- GY
GarageYears is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 14:01
  #17 (permalink)  
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On the Beach
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ditchdigger:
I can't help but notice the similarity in poor communication procedure with AAL2 at Kennedy. If he didn't get what he wanted, then he would do (whatever).

What's the proper phraseology for unequivocally declaring your intention to crash your plane? (Either ICAO or FAA.)
Can you refer me to that portion of the AA 2 tape that in any way suggests that the pilot made such an inference?

Your second sentence makes light of a most serious situation. I fail to see any humor in this pathetic Jet Blue incident.
aterpster is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 14:07
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: alameda
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I appreciate the original posting as I had not heard of this news story. The comments following have been terrible.

mental illness in aviation, especially in airline flying is a real problem. I know of two pilot suicides (on the ground, not done in the air).

I even wrote a screenplay about mental illness in flying. (as yet unproduced)

I've seen alot in several decades of aviation. maybe jetblue is pushing their pilots a bit too hard.
protectthehornet is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 14:42
  #19 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
A couple of updates with perhaps the inevitable spin control from the P.R. folks:

BOSTON -- A JetBlue pilot was taken to the hospital after he allegedly sent a text threatening to hurt himself on Thursday, according to sources close to 7NEWS.

The JetBlue pilot at Logan Airport was removed from duty and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for an evaluation.

Sources said the man sent a suicidal text message to his girlfriend. When she saw the message, the girlfriend notified the authorities.

TSA then interviewed the pilot. Agents took his gun, but the pilot was not arrested.

Sources said the pilot was not on an airplane at the time, but was in a group room, where crew members meet prior to boarding flights.
WHDH-TV - JetBlue pilot taken to Mass General for evaluation

Some reports mention an e-mail, others a text message.

May 21, 2010 9:34 am US/Eastern

TSA: Pilot Wanted Suicide In 'Spectacular Fashion'

Officials Insist Pilot Only Thought Of Harming Himself; Removed From Flight Due To 'Illness'

BOSTON (CBS) ― A JetBlue pilot caused a scare when he allegedly threatened to crash his plane, which company and federal officials deny.

A JetBlue pilot was pulled from a flight at Logan Airport Thursday just an hour before takeoff after he allegedly threatened to kill himself "in spectacular fashion," authorities said Friday.

But Logan Airport's Federal Security Director George Naccara said a report that the unidentified pilot threatened to crash the plane is "misleading."

A source told WBZ Radio in Boston the pilot was taken into custody for allegedly sending an email to his girlfriend in which he said if they did not reconcile their relationship, he was going to crash the plane.

Naccara told WBZ Radio Friday the pilot did "exchange email with another person and we were alerted through various sources," but he denied the pilot threatened to crash his flight out of Logan.

"He never threatened crashing the aircraft. It was a situation in which he was threatening to take his own life and, in fact, his words were he may do it in 'some spectacular fashion' but not anything to do with the aircraft and no reference to crashing the aircraft or harming anyone else other than himself," he said.

Naccara said it appears that the pilot's girlfriend, who is a flight attendant, was the person who tipped off authorities.

The pilot was pulled from pilot's lounge an hour before the flight for what JetBlue called "heath-related reasons."

"Actions were taken immediately and the situation was diffused very effectively," Naccara said.

"Never was anyone in any kind of jeopardy. This was very much an isolated case, certainly not related to any type of terrorism."

The airline says media reports about the threat to crash the plane were "vicious rumor and speculation."

Bryan Baldwin, manager of corporate communications for JetBlue, wrote in an email to CBS station WBZ-TV, "At no point were any customers or aircraft in danger. We are working closely with Boston authorities to ensure our crew member receives appropriate medical attention."

"He's being evaluated at Mass. General Hospital," Naccara said.

"He is not in custody, he will not be flying, of course, and other actions will be taken by JetBlue and also by the FAA."
JetBlue, Federal Security Officials Deny Pilot Threatened To Crash Plane - cbs3.com
Airbubba is offline  
Old 21st May 2010, 15:08
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: us
Posts: 694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I note that the authorities took his gun; he presumably is one of the pilot who is allowed to carry a gun in the cockpit as protection against terrorists.
SaturnV is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.