'People are going crazy': Internet shocked as JetBlue passenger forces diversion of Boston-bound flight after claiming he's 'devil'

A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston faced a mid-air emergency when a passenger, claiming to be 'the devil,' caused chaos, leading to an unscheduled landing in Orlando.
PUBLISHED JAN 6, 2024
JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston was forced to make emergency landing in Orlando (Channel 5 Boston/YouTube)
JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston was forced to make emergency landing in Orlando (Channel 5 Boston/YouTube)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA: A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston was forced to make an emergency landing in Orlando on Thursday, January 4, after an intoxicated passenger became violent, punching a woman traveling with him and claiming he was 'the devil'.

The bizarre and terrifying incident captured the attention of social media as the man was captured on video being led away by police, as reported by Daily Mail.



 

Drunk man goes on five-hour rampage mid-air on JetBlue flight

Shortly after taking off from Fort Lauderdale, the man “went on the rampage,” as described by one witness. For nearly five hours as the plane headed towards Boston, he punched, threatened, and harassed passengers around him, particularly targeting the woman seated near him.

At one point, attendants had to lock the battered woman in the plane’s bathroom to protect her. But even that didn’t stop the crazed passenger as he continued punching the door to get to her. With no other choice, the pilot decided on an emergency landing in Orlando to remove the violent passenger.

In a video taken by another passenger, the man can be seen wearing a hoodie and baseball cap, flanked by police officers leading him off the plane. Though clearly intoxicated, he was not arrested after being taken to a local hospital.

(Channel 5 Boston/YouTube)
Drunk man goes on five-hour rampage mid-air on JetBlue flight. (Channel 5 Boston/YouTube)

Passengers grew frustrated over lack of communication on JetBlue flight

After the emergency landing and removal of the violent passenger, the plane sat on the tarmac in Orlando for five hours before finally taking off again for Boston.

Passengers grew increasingly frustrated over the lack of communication about the reason behind the extended, unplanned stopover. Finally, the pilot addressed the cabin, admitting he intentionally did not update passengers earlier.

“We had a disruptive, violent passenger in the back,” the pilot finally admitted. “Unfortunately, I could not make an announcement, tip him off. We didn't want to agitate him more than he already was, he was attacking another passenger."

The plane also required refueling and a fresh crew in Orlando before legally being cleared for takeoff again, adding to the five-hour delay.

Besides the lack of communication, passengers were also outraged to discover JetBlue does not compensate for delays or disturbances caused by other passengers’ behavior. The airline categorized it as an “uncontrollable disruption” outside of their control.



 

Internet reacts with range of emotions to JetBlue flight incident

Social media exploded with reactions following the alarming mid-air incident on the JetBlue flight. Users expressed a range of emotions, reflecting the shock and disbelief triggered by the unsettling event.

"Wow….new year and people are going crazy," remarked one Facebook user. Another user echoed the sentiment with an emphatic "Oooomg!"

A concerned individual stated, "Not a good way to start the year! I’m glad everyone is ok." Another person added, "I don’t know many people who started their year with the first passenger as the devil."

The reactions further showcased the widespread astonishment, with a user succinctly expressing their shock, saying, "WTH." Meanwhile, another user's stunned response was captured in their exclamation, "Brooooooo whatttt."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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