< Back to front page Text size – +

JetBlue pilot removed from duty had a gun

E-mail|Link|Comments () May 21, 2010 04:01 PM

By Globe Staff

A JetBlue pilot turned over a gun before he was taken from Logan International Airport to a Boston hospital for evaluation Thursday, officials said.

State Police were notified at 1:45 p.m. Thursday by a federal air marshal that a man had sent an "electronic communication" to an acquaintance that led her to believe he might harm himself, State Police spokesman David Procopio said. Procopio said he didn't know exactly what the communication said.

State Police located the man in a JetBlue crew lounge, where they talked with him and he voluntarily agreed to be taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation, Procopio said.

The man also turned over a gun to the marshals, Procopio said.

Procopio said he had no information on the man's condition today or on whether he had been released from the hospital. The man's name is not being released, Procopio said, because he has not been charged with any crime.

The Transportation Security Administration has a program in which pilots are armed to protect their cockpits, but TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said she couldn't comment on whether the man belonged to that program.

The Globe reported today that the pilot had told a woman he might harm himself.

"A JetBlue pilot was removed from duty yesterday in Boston for health-related reasons. At no point were any customers or aircraft in danger. We continue to work closely with Boston authorities to ensure our crew member receives appropriate medical attention," JetBlue spokesman Bryan Baldwin said in an e-mailed statement.

He said the airline would not provide any further details because its policy was not to discuss personal information about crew out of respect for their privacy.