Man Sues Jet Blue After Having To Spend Hours In Toilet

A New York City man is suing JetBlue Airways Corp. for more than $2 million because he says a pilot made him give up his seat to a flight attendant and sit on the toilet for more than three hours on a flight from California.

Gokhan Mutlu, of Manhattan's Inwood section, says in court papers the pilot told him to "go 'hang out' in the bathroom" about 90 minutes into the San Diego to New York flight because the flight attendant complained that the "jump seat" she was assigned was uncomfortable, the lawsuit said.

Mutlu was traveling on a a "buddy pass," a standby travel voucher that JetBlue employees give to friends, from New York to San Diego on Feb. 16, and returned to New York on Feb. 23, the lawsuit said.

Initially, Mutlu was told a flight attendant had taken the last seat on the plane, but then he was advised she would sit in the employee "jump seat," meaning he could have the last seat, the lawsuit said.

The pilot told him 1 1/2 hours into the five-hour flight that he would have to relinquish the seat to the flight attendant, court papers say. But the pilot said that Mutlu could not sit in the jump seat because only JetBlue employees were permitted to sit there, the lawsuit said.

When Mutlu expressed reluctance to go sit in the bathroom, the pilot, who was not named in the lawsuit, told him that "he was the pilot, that this was his plane, under his command that (Mutlu) should be grateful for being on board," the lawsuit said.

The aircraft hit turbulence and passengers were directed to return to their seats, but "the plaintiff had no seat to return to, sitting on a toilet stool with no seat belts," court papers say.

Some time later, a male flight attendant knocked on the restroom door and told Mutlu he could return to his original seat, court papers say.

Mutlu's lawsuit, filed Friday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court, says JetBlue negligently endangered him by not providing him with a seat with a safety belt or harness, in violation of federal law.

A JetBlue spokesman declined comment on the lawsuit Monday.

Comments

[DrJimmy]

I feel this guys pain...The last time I was on Jet Blue the pilot told me to stand on my head for 3 hours.
Then he said if I wanted to get where I was going I had run up and down the aisle singing "We are family" while serving cocktails in a tutu. I mean really....­..a tutu......­that was going to far. I sued for a billion.

[leftypower]

I wonder if you think homosexuals should be taxed differently from heterosexuals.

[situationcritical]

No, but we sure do hate paying for your kid's education.

[Ouroboros]

This makes me proud to be an American in Freemarketland.

[maxfusion]

Number one question, is the stewardess a fatty?

[lisakaz2]

I never heard of such a thing before. Just because a jumpseat was "uncomfortable"? Huh? I hope JetBlue gets nailed. This is Mickey Mouse crap.

[HardLeft]

Oh, yeah: Jet Blue is cooked on this one. That the passenger was traveling on a buddy pass is immaterial. No room for passenger seating that complies with FAA reg? Shouldn't have been boarded. But he was, and Jet Blue was responsible at that point.

The Captain should be grounded. I really don't think it's necessary he should be fired, but some disciplinary action and a written apology is at least in order.

Jet Blue should cut their losses and wrote a check right away.

[situationcritical]

I think you're absolutely right. There is so much wrong with what happened on that flight.

[coldcanuckinwhite]

There is only one sensible solution to this. Do not fly anymore. Many years ago flying used to be a pleasure and one was treated with respect and kindness. tHE CUSTOMER WAS KING. Need I say more? We don't travel for business anymore unless we really have to. And when we take some time off from work, we drive to wherever we want to go. No nasty people treating us like cow dung and NO TOILET SEATS!!!

[monty]

Damn, JetBlue is in trouble. The pilot and steward essentially endangered this mans life and violated a basic airline safety rule that is enforced by the FAA. So, they will definitely have to pay, it's just a matter of how much.

I've heard too many horror stories like this about JetBlue and American Airlines. Just when they need our business most, they treat us like cattle.

[Scytherius]

Pilot needs to be fired. How utterly ridiculous. Now the man doesn't deserve $2 million but Jet Blue needs to be slapped, hard, and he should get something.

[lisakaz2]

I would think if he didn't sue for a bundle it wouldn't get the company's attentionn. And $2 million might barely be enough.

[bubbainca]

Tort reform, huh? If the case is proven against Jetblue, the man deserves every penny of it.

[EosBlue]

For my '"CREDS", I'm a retired pilot with a major airline. All or most of the airlines over the last 25 years have given their employees a travel benefit that allows them to give a free ticket (with a small service charge) to their friends, relatives, etc.

So, in this case, it appears that the flight attendant that was traveling space available got the last seat on the airplane. Then, before departure, the "toilet" passenger showed up and someone asked the space available flight attendant if she would mind riding on an empty jump seat so that the toilet guy could get on the flight. Apparently she said yes, the toilet guy was boarded and off they go into the wild blue yonder for a 5 hour plus non-stop. These jump seats are not the softest seat on the airplane by a long way. So, after about 1 1/2 hours into the flight, she wants her seat back that SHE gave up.

Apparently, the toilet guy didn't want to give up his seat (AND I DON'T BLAME HIM.) Now, a wimpy Captain comes back and tells the toilet guy give up his seat and go sit in the john. IF it had been me, I would have to the Captain to shove it up his ass. Apparently, the toilet guy didn't want to make waves or was worried about losing future "buddy" trips. Blame this on Captain Wimp.

[lisakaz2]

You know, I thought I've always seen the attendants sit in the jumpseats, not "real" seats. Just me?

[Frozuzzle]

It was the pilot who decided the passenger should sit on the toilet? Remember, these are the folks who have been given gun privileges on flights. They're all supposed to be smart enough to carry those dangerous weapons on a plane.

[Jess27]

I don't think that intelligence is a requirement in order to carry a weapon.

[UCantPolishATurdblossum]

The solution would have been to have the flight attendant service the passenger while on the toilet. Giving the bumpkin a blumpkin would have led to a happy ending for all. But Jet Blew it the wrong way.

[situationcritical]

Ugh.

[bubbainca]

LOL. Like name like comment :-)

[saxmaniac]

Ever since Feb 07 when jet Blue left a loaded plane on the ramp for hours, then the following week cancelled a bunch of flights because of a new computer scheduling system (that one left me on the ground), they've been in a steep descent. Recently flew JB and Southwest. in same week. SW is now my favorite airline, and I travel A LOT.

[mooph]

Gotta love the stain at the bottom of the toilet in the accompanying picture!

[jubo]

Mmm... thanks.

:)

[mooph]

Guess that would add to the psychological pain and suffering.

[DRaymond]

Two million dollars seems excessive, but if this is true i suspect that there is some sort of FAA safety regulation that was violated here.

Having to occasionally use the jump seat is part of the job. The cabin attendant was out of line and the pilot equally so for going along along with it.

[DMSmith]

2 Million is not excessive, for one reason: The airline would not be phased by less. The purpose of these settlements is two-fold. One, compensate the passenger (and his lawyers and all of their research and time - NOT cheap), and Two, to startle the airline into recognition. 10 million is closer to THAT mark!
That pilot should be fired, the flight-attendant demoted, and the airline should pay it all!!!

[TruthNow101]

If you ask me, it's more convenient, that why you don't have to disturb people on the flight to get up and use the restroom. He's ALREADY there!