A doctor flying JetBlue missed his flight from Tampa to New York JFK airport, and talked himself into arrest. Recently released police bodycam footage of the February 28 incident is going viral in online discussion forums.
Officers had responded to a call about an intoxicated passenger, who insisted he was fine – ‘only’ had three drinks (drunk passengers don’t actually know the number, and aren’t necessarily earnest in their disclosures).
He offers a “drunk driving test” as proof he’s fit to fly. Officers explain the obvious: the airline, not police, decides who boards. He repeats “I’m a Mosaic” – JetBlue’s elite status – in his ‘don’t you know who I am?’ attempt to override federal and airline safety rules.
When told he’s not flying that night (his spouse mentions a 6:00–6:15 a.m. rebooking), he refuses to leave the area and tells officers “you’re dismissed.” They were just going to help remove him from the check-in area when he was being denied travel. Now he’s arrested.
In the car he tries a last desperate ‘don’t you know who I am’ tactic, pivoting to “I’m a doctor… my patients in New York won’t be seen because of you,” – then unloads profanity. He was charged with disorderly intoxication.
These were not helpful statements:
“I will literally do a drunk driving test…”“I’m a Mosaic.”
“Arrest me. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“I’m a doctor… my patients in New York won’t be seen because of you.”
Ultimately, airlines can refuse to transport any passenger they decide may be a safety risk (49 U.S.C. § 44902(b)). You don’t need a breath test for that. The FAA bars boarding anyone who appears intoxicated (14 C.F.R. § 121.575). A field sobriety test is beside the point. It’s a judgment call, and not a blood test either. JetBlue’s Contract of Carriage explicitly allows Refusal to Transport on safety grounds. Mosaic status doesn’t confer immunity.
Florida makes disorderly intoxication in public a misdemeanor. Refusing to leave after a warning can also be trespass. However, he wasn’t ‘blacklisted’ and certainly wouldn’t have been right away.
The officer tells the doctor’s spouse that he “guarantees” the airline probably blacklisted him. That’s a cop’s hot take, and also wrong.
- They’d already discussed rebooking for the morning, by which time he’d have sobered up.
- Front line agents don’t issue airline bans. That’s done at the corporate level after an investigation by a security group.
- And those are usually reserved for threats, assault or significant disruptions and costs.
Airlines sell alcohol onboard. This was happening more often during the pandemic when airlines had suspended inflight alcohol service, and passengers were pre-gaming more at the airport (and sneaking their own onboard).
Often customers get onboard, as airlines have cut back on gate staff who are too busy to notice the condition of each passenger – and where they’re paying attention it’s more likely to the size of carry-on bags that must be checked than to inebriation. (If this doctor had checked in using the JetBlue app and gone straight to the gate he might have successfully boarded.)
If you’re ever denied boarding for intoxication, or for any reason, stop debating. If you feel it’s unfair, and you’re being mistreated, arguing isn’t going to improve the treatment – so deal with someone else at the airline. Politely ask for a later flight and go hydrate. Take up any redress after the fact with higher-level employees.
Remember, status – both airline status (Mosaic) and social status (doctor) are different than sobriety. Airlines have a federal safety mandate. Police have trespass authority. The fastest way to make a bad decision permanent is to argue it into an arrest.
Just watched the video. This passenger (doctor) would’ve had absolutely no problem if he just STFU after the first few minutes of talking to the cop. Gotta hand it to the cop for being patient and calm
Hahahaha…..he thinks things are bad now just because he was denied boarding, just wait until that other Board (the New York and/or Florida Medical Boards) get ahold of you and deny him practicing.
Oh, right this way, Mr. Mosaic… let’s roll out that Mint carpet for you… my liege.
I’ve had top-tier non-invitation status with each of the ‘big three’ over the years (Diamond, 1K, Executive Platinum), and had status-matched to jetBlue’s Mosaic 3 for a year, and the best thing was the Move to Mint certificates; otherwise, there’s little benefits other than early boarding, better seat selection, kinda like most airline statuses. My thought is, sure, why not, but I wouldn’t fight to get it.
However, when things go wrong, whoever’s fault it may be, even with top tier status, we’re usually mostly on our own, having to rebook ourselves, advocate for our own best remedies, etc. So, set expectations low, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and try, please, try… not to be a prick about it.
He’s not a doctor, he’s a chiropractor.
If you try the “do you know who I am?” test and they don’t know, maybe that’s your cue to leave before they do know.
Here’s the answer for , “Don’t you know who I am?”
“No, I don’t! But…if you’ll hum a few bars, I’ll try to sing along.”
The drunk will be “too drunk” to know that I just called his bluff.
Another pro tip: Never say, “I’m not as think as you drunk I am!”
Gary’s write up doesn’t mention the very first segment of the clip – where the passenger says his *wife* told JetBlue she was worried about him boarding.
Different from him being so drunk the JetBlue staff noticed first.