Captain goes berserk on Jet Blue

[georgel]

Considering the way aviation security changed after Sep.11 and how security services everywhere gained increased power to check and humiliate crews as if we are criminals - no wonder such things happen and will happen more frequently. That's the result of the US politics and their desire to control and monitor every person on Earth.

[TeeVee]

sadly, at least for those dying of curiosity, because of the confidentiality of medical records in this country, you will never know what caused this.

sorry for the guy and hope he does recover fully from whatever.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Alessandro

From what I read, the captain left the cockpit volunteerily.

That I guessed. But why?

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

That I guessed. But why?

If he was in that kind of agitated state, he probably needed to get out of the cockpit. It's kind of a natural instinct when adrenalin takes over. Fight or Flight (no pun intended).

[mawheatley]

Originally Posted by Evan

Yes, I apologize. The latest reports indicate that he never said anything about bombs or terrorists. I really feel bad for the guy, and I hope he gets the help he needs and can get back in the saddle some day. It's a tragic thing to see someone break down like that. It can happen to anyone.

BTW: weirdly, it turns out I've worked (and flown) quite a bit with one of the guys who restrained the pilot. He's very level-headed under pressure, so it doesn't surprise me. Kudos to him.

You're absolutely right - it's a terrible shame. Military veteran out there protecting us, excellent reputation, great career, personally known by the CEO, then this. Reports seem to be saying he did not go to work yesterday morning with the intention of doing this, yet now it looks like his career could be over. Best wishes and prayers, not just to him but his wife and family as well.

Do you think he could get back flying, or is this pretty much the end?

[Deadstick]

Originally Posted by mawheatley

Do you think he could get back flying, or is this pretty much the end?

I wouldn't want him in the front seat on my flight.

[MCM]

Gabriel,

The news stations down here reported that when the F/O noticed the skipper was starting to talk rubbish he verbally convinced him to go back to the cabin to check something out (regarding what he was ranting about), and then didn't let him back in.

Don't know how true it is though.

[mawheatley]

Originally Posted by Deadstick

I wouldn't want him in the front seat on my flight.

And that's really the question we should be asking. My initial reaction was that I hope he does get the treatment he needs and that he does get back to where he was before this event, but then I ask myself if I'd then feel comfortable putting my wife and children on one of his flights, and I have to say no, I wouldn't.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by MCM

Gabriel,

The news stations down here reported that when the F/O noticed the skipper was starting to talk rubbish he verbally convinced him to go back to the cabin to check something out (regarding what he was ranting about), and then didn't let him back in.

Don't know how true it is though.

Good move.
And I trust your "news station down there" more than my "mainstream stations up here".

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Good move.
And I trust your "news station down there" more than my "mainstream stations up here".

News is now saying that he went out on his own to use the lav ~ didn't follow protocol exiting the cockpit and pounded on the lav door because a female pax was using it. The F/O brought in the off-duty Capt and then they both locked themselves in the cockpit before he returned.

Apparently Jesus was involved. And Patriotism. From the latest 'transcript', I think his head was full of those scary fundamentalist ideas.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by mawheatley

And that's really the question we should be asking. My initial reaction was that I hope he does get the treatment he needs and that he does get back to where he was before this event, but then I ask myself if I'd then feel comfortable putting my wife and children on one of his flights, and I have to say no, I wouldn't.

It doesn't look promising for him:

If that description of Osbon's behavior is correct, "this guy was clearly psychotic," said Dr. William Sledge, a professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine who has not treated Osbon. "That has all the earmarks of an acute psychotic episode. I wouldn't hesitate to make that statement."

Psychosis is an automatic disqualification from flying, said Sledge, who is himself a pilot, was a flight surgeon at the School of Aerospace Medicine and has consulted for the Federal Aviation Administration, the Airline Pilots Association and a number of airlines.

Cases of psychosis among pilots are unusual, but not rare, and can be career-ending, he said.

"Pretty much, their career is done, most of them," he said. "It's a lifetime disqualification for obvious reasons ... you have to be able to trust each other and you have to be able to trust that the airman is going to be able to perform in a reasonable way."

[Fear_of_Flying]

Originally Posted by Evan

It doesn't look promising for him:

Mr. Osbon has now had a criminal complaint filed against him for interference with a flight crew. I find this highly disconcerting. Had he experienced a heart attack, I'm pretty sure prosecuting him wouldn't enter the conversation; I don't see how this is so much different. Does anyone seriously believe he was in control of his faculties? No wonder mental illness is a hidden burden faced by so many in society.

http://thejobmouse.com/2012/03/28/au...jetblue-pilot/

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Evan

Apparently Jesus was involved. And Patriotism. From the latest 'transcript', I think his head was full of those scary fundamentalist ideas.

Jesus an patriotism are not "fundamentalist" ideas by themselves.
But any "idea", even peace, can be taken to a fundementalistic extreme.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Jesus an patriotism are not "fundamentalist" ideas by themselves.

No, not by themselves, but in the "rigid, narrow and deep" psyche, they become that. In post 9/11 America these things have become increasingly rigid. There is a deadly human cost to that trend, and we will now have to cope with it going into the future. I get the impression that this pilot's head was full of obsessive thoughts planted there by continuous exposure to fundamentalist ideas and mass media propaganda.

Tolerance is a necessary part of pride and religion. Without this, you lose your grip on reality.

[Fear_of_Flying]

Originally Posted by Evan

No, not by themselves, but in the "rigid, narrow and deep" psyche, they become that. In post 9/11 America these things have become increasingly rigid. There is a deadly human cost to that trend, and we will now have to cope with it going into the future. I get the impression that this pilot's head was full of obsessive thoughts planted there by continuous exposure to fundamentalist ideas and mass media propaganda.

Tolerance is a necessary part of pride and religion. Without this, you lose your grip on reality.

This argument is a variation on a theme we hear anytime someone goes off the deep end and we start looking for societal "causes". For example, if a high school student goes on a shooting rampage, we question the amount of violence that is shown in the media.

I, for one, am skeptical of these sorts of claims. At the very most, they are contributory factors (to use an aviation term), but even then, I think it's a stretch. It seems to me that a disturbed mind will wrap itself around whatever ideas are available and twist them to its own purposes. There always has been and always will be a darker side of human nature, and the disturbed psyche can be tormented by that. From that point on, things like availability of weapons, the "trigger" that causes the person to go over the edge and so forth are simply contingent facts of their life circumstances, whether it's in the Middle Ages or the 21st century. The primary cause, though, is the mental illness, and our handling of that is where we continue to fall woefully short in society, in my opinion.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Fear_of_Flying

This argument is a variation on a theme we hear anytime someone goes off the deep end and we start looking for societal "causes". For example, if a high school student goes on a shooting rampage, we question the amount of violence that is shown in the media.

I, for one, am skeptical of these sorts of claims. At the very most, they are contributory factors (to use an aviation term), but even then, I think it's a stretch. It seems to me that a disturbed mind will wrap itself around whatever ideas are available and twist them to its own purposes. There always has been and always will be a darker side of human nature, and the disturbed psyche can be tormented by that. From that point on, things like availability of weapons, the "trigger" that causes the person to go over the edge and so forth are simply contingent facts of their life circumstances, whether it's in the Middle Ages or the 21st century. The primary cause, though, is the mental illness, and our handling of that is where we continue to fall woefully short in society, in my opinion.

Yes, that's essentially what I'm saying, that these provocative things that most people can absorb without losing their grip on reality are very dangerous to certain minds who can't, and that is not being taken into consideration. And there a lot of disturbed minds out there, hiding deep behind the normal exterior. Perhaps even in cockpits.

More to the point, pilots currently do not undergo mandatory psychiatric screening.

Originally Posted by NY Times

Pilots are required to have annual medical checkups. But these exams, performed by general medical practitioners, are not always thorough, some pilots say, and do not typically include psychological evaluations. The airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration rely on pilots to voluntarily disclose any physical or mental health problems they may have or medication they are taking.

[3WE]

c'mon folks...

...it's not like the dude sat there with the stick pulled all the way back, unable to comprehend why there was a high sink rate, crummy roll control, low airspeed indications and stall warnings...

[Graham2001]

Originally Posted by 3WE

c'mon folks...

...it's not like the dude sat there with the stick pulled all the way back, unable to comprehend why there was a high sink rate, crummy roll control, low airspeed indications and stall warnings...

Or decided he was on a bombing run over the Pacific....

[Fear_of_Flying]

The pilot has now been ordered to receive a psychiatric evaluation...no kidding. But that's only to determine if he's fit to stand trial so they can try to throw him in jail for 20 years*. On top of that, he was held without bail - when does that ever happen? - and brought into the courtroom in shackles. Welcome to the Middle Ages. I sure hope this guy gets the help he needs, and pity anyone who has to deal with mental illness in their lives.

(*Actually, they're also going to evaluate whether or not he was "sane" at the time of the meltdown, so that could work in his favor. Let's hope.)

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Fear_of_Flying

On top of that, he was held without bail - when does that ever happen? - and brought into the courtroom in shackles. Welcome to the Middle Ages.

Welcome to Texas.