The estate of John Allen Fletcher has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against JetBlue Airways and ABM Aviation after Fletcher suffered a fatal stroke while in-flight. The incident occurred on April 22, 2025, during Flight 321, which departed from Boston, Massachusetts, and landed at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). The lawsuit claims that both cabin crew and airport employees failed to respond appropriately to clear symptoms of a medical emergency.
According to the lawsuit, Fletcher displayed obvious signs of distress upon landing, including garbled speech and physical inability to exit the aircraft. Despite these symptoms, the complaint alleges that JetBlue’s cabin crew did not take immediate action. Instead, they requested a non-emergency wheelchair attendant from ABM Aviation to assist Fletcher off the plane. The lawsuit further claims that Fletcher was left unattended in the baggage area for an extended period until discovered by his family.
The family’s journey to PBI turned tragic when they found Fletcher slumped in a wheelchair, visibly in distress. His daughter reported that an ABM employee declined to call emergency services, stating, “we’re not allowed to do that.” This apparent refusal to contact emergency medical personnel has raised serious questions about the protocols followed by both the airline and the airport in handling medical emergencies.
Negligence Claims Against JetBlue and ABM
The lawsuit asserts that both JetBlue and ABM Aviation neglected established stroke recognition protocols. The family contends they consciously disregarded the danger to Fletcher’s life. They argue that medical personnel did not arrive to offer assistance until more than an hour after the aircraft landed. By the time Fletcher reached St. Mary’s Hospital, he had suffered irreversible damage and ultimately passed away on May 5, 2025, following a 13-day hospitalization.
Fletcher, who was traveling in a premium seat, which typically offers greater visibility to cabin crew, is described by his family as having been treated as an “inconvenient obstacle” rather than a passenger in need of urgent medical attention. The lawsuit emphasizes this point, stating, “As all the other passengers deplaned, Mr. Fletcher was physically unable to rise and remove himself from the aircraft and remained sprawled across the seats in row 2 in full view of JetBlue’s crew.”
Legal Responsibilities of Airlines
Commercial airlines have a legal obligation to provide reasonable medical assistance to passengers. While crew members are not required to be medical professionals, they must exercise due care to ensure passenger safety. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that cabin crew undergo training in first aid, CPR, and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). If an airline fails to act or denies necessary medical assistance during a crisis, it may be deemed negligent.
The family’s legal representation, the law office of Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik, notes that failure to follow standard procedures or ignore an apparent need for assistance can lead to claims of negligence. Although aircrew and airlines are generally protected from liability during medical emergencies, this protection does not extend to cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
As the lawsuit progresses, it underscores the critical importance of adherence to emergency protocols in the aviation sector. The Fletcher family’s experience raises crucial questions about how airlines prioritize passenger health and safety amid operational challenges.
