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Jet Blue Captain Charged After Meltdown on Plane

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 06:52:15 PM EST
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Clayton Osbon, the Jet Blue pilot who freaked out today on a flight causing the plane to be diverted to Amarillo, has been charged with interfering with a flight crew. He's also on a psychiatric hold.

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    Jet Blue Captain Charged After Meltdown on Plane | 20 comments (20 topical)

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    I really feel sorry for this guy (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by ruffian on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 09:31:16 PM EST
    It seems clear he had a breakdown, and will lose his career.

    Thank god for the great co-pilot that got him out of the cockpit before anything worse happened.

    Sad news (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Peter G on Thu Mar 29, 2012 at 12:25:57 AM EST
    the brilliant and innovative bluegrass banjo pioneer, Earl Scruggs, has died at 88.

    I was on that flight (none / 0) (#1)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 06:57:53 PM EST
    a couple of weeks ago.

    The JFK to Vegas flight at 10:45.

    Amazing

    Mr. Zorba was on (none / 0) (#4)
    by Zorba on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:31:23 PM EST
    the equivalent trans-Atlantic Pan Am flight from Heathrow to JFK, but two days before, the "Lockerbie bombing" flight that was blown up in 1988.  Very freaky then, and it still amazes us, this many years later.  You just never know.

    Parent
    My sister and her husband... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 29, 2012 at 09:37:56 AM EST
    were on a Jetblue flight on the same day outta JFK...luckily they chose St. Maarten and not Vegas for a vacay, and/or lucky Capt. Meltdown wasn't assigned their flight.

    Parent
    End of a career? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:20:38 PM EST
    No matter the eventual explanation, what air crew - and passengers of course - would want to fly with him in the pilots seat or even on the plane again?

    Here's info from his former hometown (none / 0) (#3)
    by Towanda on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:28:12 PM EST
    about his background -- very wealthy family, went to an exclusive K12 school, has a second home in pricey Door County, etc. -- and potential sentence of 20 years! if convicted.

    The man obviously has (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Zorba on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:40:16 PM EST
    severe mental problems.  I don't think that putting him in jail for 20 years will solve anything (yes, that potential sentence is rather astounding, given his apparent problems).  I hope that he gets the mental health care that he needs, as opposed to being locked up in a cell, but you never know.  And, obviously, I don't think that he should be allowed to fly a plane again.  But, unfortunately, anything that is connected in any way with airplanes seems to get all caught up with the "OMG!  It must be terrorism!" hysteria that has become totally insane in this country, so who knows what will happen to this guy?

    Parent
    Do not confuse the potential statutory maximum (none / 0) (#13)
    by Peter G on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:30:43 PM EST
    sentence with the likely sentence, even assuming he is convicted of what he was arrested for. If, for example, he is pleads guilty to interfering with a flight crew, but the judge does not believe that he intentionally or recklessly endangered the safety of the aircraft, then the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines (section 2A5.2(a)(4)) call for a sentence of probation or not more than six months' in jail.

    Parent
    Thanks, Peter (none / 0) (#15)
    by Zorba on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:40:05 PM EST
    I do realize that.  But there must be some way to get him mental help without leaving him with a criminal record at all.  Probation to six months is certainly not nearly as bad as the maximum penalty, but still leaves him with a record.  Getting this person some badly needed mental/physical help is another thing, though.

    Parent
    That's why I said (none / 0) (#16)
    by Peter G on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:56:26 PM EST
    "even assuming" and "if."

    Parent
    i read the initial reports (none / 0) (#5)
    by cpinva on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:32:10 PM EST
    on this incident. based on the description of his actions, especially the part about him constantly sipping water, i'd swear the guy has undiagnosed Type II Diabetes, and this was a reaction from either too low or too high blood-sugar.

    i will be curious to see what "medical" issues they determine he was suffering from.

    The would be tested for (none / 0) (#6)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:37:41 PM EST
    in his yearly medical, wouldn't it? How fast can it develop?

    Parent
    i don't think diabetes is something (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by cpinva on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:07:46 PM EST
    normally tested for, in a physical. it's possible it might be, for an FAA physical, i really have no idea.

    that said, Type II Diabetes doesn't just pop up overnite, it is usually preceded by Type I Diabetes, which is controlled by diet. in fact, per the professionals, if you change your diet, get more exercise, etc. you can actually rid yourself of diabetes altogether, because your body will produce enough insulin naturally to handle the amount of blood-sugar a healthy diet would create.

    i only have a clue because both my mother-in-law and wife both have Type II Diabetes, and both require injections of insulin to control it. i know for a fact my wife's diet is on the "crappy, bordering on super crappy" side, so that is the primary cause of hers. hey, i've tried ever since i've known her, but i can't force her to eat healthy!

    Parent

    AMAS (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:19:12 PM EST
    Aviation Medicine Advisory Service

    Introduction

    Fortunately, the condition is treatable, and in most cases, pilots may be granted authorization for all classes of airman medical certification.
    [snip]

    High Risk Groups

    Type II diabetes mellitus usually presents in adulthood and often goes undetected until discovered during a routine physical examination or laboratory testing for other reasons (such as FAA periodic exams).



    Parent
    Type 2 does not come from Type 1 (none / 0) (#14)
    by vicndabx on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:36:09 PM EST
    Type 1 means your pancreas isn't producing enough or any insulin. Type 2, the less serious form, can usually be controlled with diet and exercise. Type 1 requires regular insulin injections.

    I think you have it backwards.

    Parent

    doubtful (none / 0) (#9)
    by rise hillary rise on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:07:15 PM EST
    has to be pretty fit (nonobese) and with medicals every 6 months that would be hard to miss. thirst kicks in around glucose of 280-300 (3x "legal limit"). possibly a frontal or temporal lobe brain tumor but in my experience these usually cause lethargy and depressed affect, not agitation and mania.

    sounds a like manic episode producing psychosis. with no prior history there is the possibility of a metabolic trigger, the first one that comes to mind is thyroid storm.

    jmo

    Parent

    actually, it turns out that you don't (none / 0) (#11)
    by cpinva on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:11:37 PM EST
    have to be obese to be diabetic. my wife was 5'10", 135 lbs when we got married, and was diabetic. it was her rotten eating habits.

    but yeah, you'd think that would be something they'd notice while doing the (i presume mandatory) blood work, for the physical.

    Parent

    Another "entertainer" (none / 0) (#8)
    by KeysDan on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 07:45:27 PM EST
    who never misses an opportunity to employ a serious situation in the service of a joke--at another person/group's expense.  LA radio host, Carson Daly commented on the Jet Blue situation by saying "most of the people on the plane were on their way to some sort of security conference in LV. it was a bunch of dudes and trained dudes, thank god."  "with my luck, it would be like  this flight is going to the. gay pride parade in S.F." and raising his voice, said we are headed down to LV for the floral convention."    

    Hmm (none / 0) (#20)
    by Euro News Magazine on Wed Jun 20, 2012 at 04:15:53 AM EST
    Euro News
    Fırsat

    Jet Blue Captain Charged After Meltdown on Plane | 20 comments (20 topical)

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