Seat-Switching JetBlue Passenger Yanked From Plane At JFK

Our only question—how would Steven Slater have handled this passenger? Yesterday evening, a passenger was removed from Tampa-bound JetBlue Flight 21 last night. His removal was described as being due to a "security concern" but not a terror-related one. Now it turns out he had been trying to switch seats.

According to the Daily News, "The unidentified passenger moved to an unassigned seat on JetBlue Flight 21, sparking an argument with a flight attendant shortly before 7 p.m., when the craft was scheduled to depart, a source said." He was so "disruptive" that he had to be removed... and the other 120-plus passengers had to wait and go through screening again, finally leaving at 9:40 p.m.

Oh, and the passenger wasn't arrested, but we imagine he's on some sort of internal JetBlue "no-fly" list.

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By Jen Chung in News on October 10, 2010 9:04 AM

Comments [rss]

John L

Regardless of how or why it happened I can't believe that someone would delay 120 other passengers over an argument, about a seat of all things. Incredible!

Ross

I'm guessing that this has to do with EML (even more legroom) seats. I bet this guy saw an open row in the EML section and decided to move there. The flight attendant than probably told the guy that he couldn't be there unless he had paid for the seat, and the guy threw a fit. I could be totally off, but that's what this sounds like.

jaycjay

Just to clarify for those who don't know, the point is that on Jetblue those seats are available as a paid upgrade. Moving into one would be like a coach passenger just moving up to the first class section.

But it could also just be that generally the crew wants you in your assigned seat until the flight is in the air and the seatbelt sign is off. Then you're allowed to move.