Texas judge: JetBlue pilot not guilty by reason of insanity

HOUSTON -- A JetBlue Airways pilot who roamed the cabin raving about terrorists before being subdued by passengers was found not guilty by reason of insanity Tuesday, according to a court filing obtained by The Times.

U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson issued the ruling during a bench trial in Amarillo, noting that Clayton Osbon suffered from a “severe mental disease or defect,” according to the Associated Press.

Osbon’s attorney, Dean Roper, declined to comment to the Associated Press.

After a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, Osbon had been found competent to stand trial. Now he will be sent to a federal mental health facility in Fort Worth for further examination, according to court records. Another hearing will be held by Aug. 6. Then the judge will decide whether he can be released or should be committed for a longer period.

Osbon was indicted on a charge of interfering with a flight crew after the March 27 incident on a flight from Las Vegas to New York. Because of the ruckus, the copilot made an emergency landing in Amarillo.

After Osbon walked out of the cockpit, the copilot locked the door and, via intercom, asked that Osbon be subdued. Passengers told investigators they wrestled him to the floor after he ran through the aisle yelling about Jesus and terrorists.

JetBlue spokeswoman Alison Croyle told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the airline “continues to support the Osbon family; we don’t have further comment as we let the judicial process play out.... He is still employed, on inactive status, with JetBlue.”

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