A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston was forced to divert to Orlando after a deranged passenger who called himself “The Devil” allegedly punched a woman on board, according to witnesses.
The violent incident occurred Thursday night aboard JetBlue Flight 170, disrupting flight operations and delaying the flight for more than five hours.
The airline confirmed to The Post Friday that “the flight was diverted to Orlando due to an incident between two passengers on board.”
A male passenger, whose identity has not been made public, threatened those around him, saying he was the devil, and assaulted his female companion. WCVB-TV reportedcited eyewitness testimony.
A man who was sitting in the back seat of the plane near the deranged passenger told police that the flight attendant had put her in the bathroom for safety and that the man had been banging on the door to get her out.
Traveler Max Seelig, who was sitting at the front of the plane, said one of the flight attendants told him and his neighbors that the plane was scheduled to make a “pit stop” in Orlando, but that “this will not be announced in 2019.” He said he was told this. That’s if it pisses off a man,” he said.
Passenger Leo Lewis, wearing a hoodie and baseball cap, recorded a video on his cell phone of himself being escorted off the plane by police after the out-of-control flyer landed in Orlando.
It was only after the man was safely ejected that the pilot explained to the remaining passengers what was happening, as seen in Lewis' recording.
The pilot said there was a “disruptive and violent passenger in the back”. “Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make an announcement to let him know. He was attacking other passengers, so I didn't want to provoke him any further.”
A JetBlue spokesperson told the Post that the two customers “were deplaned with the assistance of law enforcement and the flight continued to Boston with a delay.”
Passengers said everyone had to disembark in Orlando, wait for the plane to be refueled and a new crew arrive before boarding the plane again, and the plane landed in Boston at 4:31 a.m. Friday. It is said that
Meanwhile, Orlando police announced that no unruly passengers have been arrested.
“The individual was intoxicated and was transported to a local hospital. [Orlando Fire Department] for treatment,” a ministry spokesperson told The Post Friday.
