Judge: JetBlue pilot who left cockpit, disrupted flight is mentally competent to stand trial

AMARILLO, Texas – A JetBlue Airways pilot who left the cockpit during a flight and screamed about religion and terrorists is mentally competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Friday.

A U.S. District judge in Texas also ruled that 49-year-old Clayton F. Osbon’s psychiatric evaluation be sealed.

Osbon was indicted in April on a charge of interfering with a flight crew after a March 27 incident on a plane bound for Las Vegas from New York.

Osbon allegedly ran through the cabin yelling about Jesus and al-Qaida. The first officer locked him out of the cockpit, and passengers wrestled him to the floor. The plane made an emergency landing in Texas.

If convicted, Osbon could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

The judge did not set a trial date.

Osbon’s attorney, Dean Roper, previously filed a motion notifying the court that he plans to use an insanity defence at trial. He did not comment after the hearing.

Osbon was suspended after the incident. JetBlue Airways spokeswoman Sharon Jones said Thursday that Osbon remains an employee and his status is inactive.