A livid JetBlue Airways passenger went on a rampage through the check-in area at JFK terminal 5 on Saturday September 14th. The traveler was reportedly denied a last-minute ticket to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which led the man to destroy several check-in kiosks, trash cans, and barrier walls.
What Caused the Destruction?
Witnesses of the incident have said the Haitian man, who had not been publicly identified, was yelling at JetBlue ticket staff, demanding he be put on the next flight to Haiti.
The man grew increasingly frustrated until his anger reached a tipping point, pacing around the check-in area and screaming at other JetBlue passengers that he “needs to get to Haiti on the JetBlue flight… the next JetBlue flight.”
In the moments after, observers captured dramatic video of the man punching a desktop computer to the ground, running around the terminal, ripping down lane dividers and throwing them into other passengers. In another clip, the man ripped a check-in stand from the ground and proceeded to punch another before throwing two trash cans across the check-in hall.
According to a video commenter, “his sister was just killed in Haiti and he wanted to get on the next JetBlue flight. Apparently he felt someone lied to him" and that he wanted to leave the "godforsaken country."
Minutes later, a single police officer arrived at the scene and proceeded to bear-hug the man and carry him out of the terminal. However many question why the security response was so delayed, especially at a major international airport like JFK.
Extremely Limited Flights to Haiti
Due to the current political instability and extreme violence in Haiti and a do-not travel advisory from the U.S. State Department, few commercial flights are offered from the United States to the Caribbean island nation.
JetBlue's once daily nonstop flight between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Port-au-Prince's Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture (PAP) provides a crucial lifeline to those in need of transport between the U.S. and Haiti.
JetBlue's outbound flight, B6935, departs daily at 6:00 a.m. and arrives in Haiti at 9:50 a.m. The return flight, operated as B6634, leaves Haiti at 10:50 a.m. and arrives back in New York at 2:44 p.m.
Only American and Spirit Airlines join JetBlue in continued service to Haiti, with flights departing from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, respectively. JetBlue also operates flights from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince.
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Comments (2)
Robert Chester
Grammar correction: "According to onlookers, the Haitian man who had not been publicly identified was yelling at JetBlue ticket staff, demanding he was put on the next flight to Haiti," contains two comma errors and one verb tense error. See next.
"According to onlookers, the Haitian man, who had not been publicly identified, was yelling at JetBlue ticket staff, demanding he BE put on the next flight to Haiti." Note two additional commas and the verb in the dependent clause. You could also say, "demanding to be put on..." which would eliminate the BE problem.
Safe Travels
Comments about the man’s behavior, the loss of his sister, the slow response time would all seem appropriate regarding the story. To criticize the grammar concerns are some of the stupidest comments I have read!
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