> At a Glance
> – John Allen Fletcher allegedly suffered a stroke on a JetBlue flight and died 13 days later
> – The lawsuit claims he received no medical attention for an hour after landing
> – JetBlue and ABM Aviation are accused of ignoring emergency protocols
> – Why it matters: The case highlights potential gaps in airline medical emergency response
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in Palm Beach, Florida, accuses JetBlue Airways and ABM Aviation of negligence after a passenger suffered a stroke on a plane and allegedly waited an hour for medical help.
What Happened on Flight 321
On April 22, 2025, John Allen Fletcher boarded JetBlue Flight 321 in Boston. According to the complaint, he was in “good health” and showed “no signs of acute distress.”
Fletcher sat in seat 2F, a Premium seat the lawsuit says was “easily observed by JetBlue’s flight attendants.”
After the plane landed at Palm Beach International Airport, Fletcher stood up – then collapsed back into his seat, suffering what the suit describes as a “major stroke.”
Alleged Failures in Response
The complaint states Fletcher:
- Had garbled speech
- Tried to get other passengers’ attention
- Was physically unable to leave the aircraft
- Remained “sprawled across the seats in row 2”
Despite being “in full view of JetBlue’s crew,” the suit claims the airline:
- Requested a non-emergency wheelchair
- Brought Fletcher to baggage claim
- Did not call 911
ABM Aviation’s Role
At the baggage area, Fletcher’s daughter Diane found him “slumped” in a wheelchair. When she asked an ABM employee to call 911, the worker allegedly refused, saying:
> “We’re not allowed to do that.”
Fletcher was finally taken to Saint Mary’s Hospital – one hour after landing. He never recovered and died on May 5, 2025.
Legal Claims and Response
The estate alleges gross negligence, claiming JetBlue and ABM showed:
- Deliberate indifference to Fletcher’s health
- Conscious disregard for the consequences
- Violation of medical emergency protocols
The lawsuit seeks $50,000 in damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs, and demands a jury trial.
JetBlue told News Of Los Angeles:
> “We take the health and safety of our customers and crewmembers very seriously. Due to ongoing litigation, we are unable to comment further.”
News Of Los Angeles contacted ABM Aviation but received no immediate response.
Key Takeaways
- Fletcher’s estate claims obvious stroke symptoms were ignored
- The suit says airline crews are trained to recognize medical emergencies
- The case raises questions about airline duty of care for incapacitated passengers
- The $50,000 lawsuit could set a precedent for medical response standards
The suit underscores growing scrutiny of how airlines handle in-flight and post-landing medical crises.
