JetBlue sued for bomb threat pilot

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NEW YORK, June 13 (UPI) -- Ten passengers who were on a JetBlue flight when its pilot started yelling about a bomb sued the airline in New York Wednesday, accusing it of negligence.

The suit said JetBlue was "grossly negligent" when it allowed Capt. Clayton Osbon to fly the plane from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to Las Vegas in March, the New York Daily News reported.

The pilot began running through the cabin of the plane during the flight, yelling about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and al-Qaida.

'Say your prayers ... We're going down ...There's a bomb on board .. .The plane will never make it to Vegas,' " the suit quoted the pilot as saying.

Flight crew members and passengers were able to subdue the pilot and the flight was diverted to Amarillo, Texas.

The lawsuit said JetBlue should have known Osbon was unfit to fly the plane, but the airline said at the time the pilot had a spotless 12-year record with the company. The suit did not specify an amount in damages.

Osbon has been indicted in Amarillo on federal charges of interfering with a flight crew and trying to use the aircraft as a dangerous instrument and weapon against the passengers with the intent of crashing the aircraft and causing them to fear for their safety, the Daily News reported.