Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: JetBlue Flight From JFK Diverted After Dad Freaks Out
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 15, 2014
Modified Jul 24, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 15, 2014
Modified Jul 24, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This has not been a good week for JetBlue: first a Massachusetts mom claimed that a flight attendant wouldn't let her daughter go to the toilet, which resulted in the child urinating on herself. Now, a flight from JFK to Las Vegas had to be diverted to Detroit after a passenger royally freaked out. You can see what happened onboard in the video below, via ABC.
ABC US News | ABC Celebrity News
The flight took off around 6:20 a.m. on Saturday from JFK. It's unclear exactly what prompted the incident, but ABC notes the man was traveling with family members, and was apparently yelling at them; at one point, a woman believed to be his daughter yells, "Dad, stop!" Flight attendants had to break out the zip-ties (though not any duct tape) to restrain him. After they landed, the man was transported via police custody to Oakwood Hospital.
ABC adds one other passenger's terrifying theory of what might have happened: "One passenger said it seemed as if the man was sleeping and woke up in a nightmare and lost his mind." So that totally won't make us anxious next time we fly, nope.
Tagged
airplane
flights
freak out
jetblue
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx man wakes up to a $39K nightmare after online meetup at hotel, NYPD says
Police say a man fell asleep and woke up to find his cash, car and phone missing.
By
Charles Lane
Published Nov 4, 2026 at 4:43 p.m. ET
Brace for bus and bike lane boom following NYC ballot approval
Supporters and foes of street safety projects agree that more of them are now on the horizon.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Brace for bus and bike lane boom following NYC ballot approval
Supporters and foes of street safety projects agree that more of them are now on the horizon.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
NY appeals court strikes down Nassau County's ban on transgender athletes
By
Giulia Heyward
4 takeaways after Democrats’ big night in New York
By
Walter Wuthmann
and
Elizabeth Kim
NYC wins court fight over rollout of pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .