NEW YORK- A JetBlue (B6) flight operating from Boston Logan International Airport BOS to Tampa International Airport TPA turned back after the crew reported that a passenger on board the flight had smoked marijuana in the lavatory. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, was cruising near New York when pilots informed ATC of the disturbance and requested a return to Boston BOS.
The crew later declared an emergency due to an overweight landing and reported inhalation exposure from the incident. The aircraft landed safely on runway 15R and taxied to the gate without further issues.
JetBlue Flight Returns to Boston
The JetBlue A321, registration N907JB, was operating flight B61191 from Boston BOS to Tampa TPA when the cockpit contacted New York Center at 34,000 feet.
The crew reported a passenger disturbance after a customer smoked marijuana and vaped in the lavatory. They confirmed the cockpit was secure and requested an immediate diversion back to Boston.
ATC cleared the aircraft to begin descent and provided vectors back toward Boston. The pilots initially stated no emergency existed, but after further assessment, they advised controllers that the crew had inhaled smoke from the incident and would need to perform an overweight landing. This triggered a formal emergency declaration.
As the aircraft descended on the ROBUX 3 arrival, ATC coordinated routing, runway selection, and fuel burn to bring the aircraft within safe landing parameters.
The crew provided essential information, including 208 people on board and approximately 28,000 pounds of fuel. ATC later offered the longer runway 15R for the overweight landing, which the crew accepted.
ATC Coordination and Safe Return
Throughout the diversion, pilots and controllers exchanged detailed operational information, including seat assignment for the disruptive passenger, fuel levels, and routing adjustments to reduce landing weight.
ATC extended the flight path to allow additional fuel burn and eventually cleared the aircraft for an ILS approach to runway 15R.
Despite the overweight landing, the A321 touched down safely and taxied to gate C19. There were no reported injuries. The incident remains categorized as a passenger disturbance with no further escalation.
Here’s a detailed transcription of the communication between the JetBlue pilot and Boston ATC as flagged by You Can See ATC as recorded by LiveATC.net:
{ts:22}
Pilot: New York, JetBlue 1191.
ATC: Yeah, go ahead.
{ts:26}
Pilot: Customer disturbance. Will be returning to Boston. Requesting diversion to Boston.
ATC: JetBlue 1191, you’re diverting to Boston?
Pilot: Affirmative, requesting direct Boston back to Boston.
{ts:36}
ATC: JetBlue 1191, you have an emergency negative at this time?
Pilot: Negative at this time. We did have a customer service…
{ts:44}
ATC: Roger. Descent and maintain flight level 300. I’ll have your turn shortly.
Pilot: Level 300, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:50}
ATC: JetBlue 1191, descend and maintain flight level 310.
Pilot: 310, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:56}
Pilot: JetBlue 1191 out of flight level 330. Turn left, fly heading 190.
ATC: Out of 330, turn left heading 190, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:68}
ATC: JetBlue 1191, cleared to Boston Airport via radar vectors, fly heading 140.
Pilot: Cleared to Boston via radar vectors, 140, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:91}
Pilot: Ready to copy. JetBlue 1191, cleared direct to JFK. Roger the ROBUX 3 arrival to Boston.
{ts:114}
ATC: Is the cockpit secure right now?
Pilot: Cockpit secure. We had a customer vape in the lav and was smoking marijuana in the lav. Would like to return to Boston.
{ts:128}
Pilot: We’d like to burn some fuel, get a lower altitude if that’d be appreciated.
ATC: 1191, maintain 290.
Pilot: 290, JetBlue 1191. We’ll take as low as we can get.
{ts:143}
ATC: JetBlue 1191, clear direct to NEUS, descend and maintain 230.
Pilot: Direct NEUS, 230, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:164}
ATC: Boston, JetBlue 1191, 230, 290 indicated.
ATC: Boston Center, descend and maintain flight level 210, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:176}
Pilot: Confirm we’ll be planning an overweight landing, we’ll declare the emergency at this time.
ATC: 1191, did you say you are going to be an overweight landing?
Pilot: Affirm, just ran the numbers, planning an overweight landing. JetBlue 1191.
{ts:200}
ATC: Got the info for you right here. JetBlue 1191, cleared direct PROV. Go ahead with the information.
Pilot: Direct PROV, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:213}
Pilot: 208 souls on board, fuel remaining 28.0 (thousands of pounds) now.
ATC: JetBlue 1191, but it was the nature—is it just the overweight landing?
Pilot: For JetBlue 1191, yes. We had a security issue with a passenger, mostly a disturbance. They’re smoking marijuana. Our crew inhaled it and now we’re overweight landing. So that’s the main reason for the emergency.
{ts:262}
ATC: Roger. We’ll do JetBlue 1191, descend via ROBUX 3, runway 22 left.
Pilot: Descend via ROBUX 3, 22 left, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:283}
ATC: Just want to verify the 28.0 on the fuel—is that in thousands of pounds?
Pilot: Affirmative. 27,600 lbs now, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:302}
Pilot: JetBlue 1191 at 14,800 for 5,000 descending on the ROBUX arrival, 22 left.
{ts:315}
ATC: Expect to add, if you like the longer runway 15 right, that is available.
Pilot: Roger, we’ll get back to you about 15 right, standby.
{ts:329}
Pilot: We’d like to take 15 right, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:341}
ATC: Roger that. Vectors for now, left heading 85, right approach. And when you get a moment, sir, I need the seat number/assignment for the person in question, your gate number, and fuel.
{ts:354}
ATC: Vector heading 15 right.
Pilot: Confirm.
{ts:372}
ATC: Down to 5,000, JetBlue 1191, and present maintain 8,000.
Pilot: 8,000 now, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:383}
Pilot: JetBlue 1191, we have that information. Gate is Charlie 19, souls on board 208, fuel on board currently 27.2 (thousand lbs).
{ts:399}
ATC: Was there anything else?
Pilot: The seat number of the person in question—1F (one fox trot 11).
{ts:412}
ATC: Present heading. I’ll take you a long way around for five right so you can burn a little bit more gas.
Pilot: Sounds good, thanks.
{ts:427}
ATC: 1191, intercept localizer heading 180, intercept 15 right localizer, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:440}
ATC: Three from SWIG, cross 4,000 above, clear for 15 right at the 17 off the MALDI.
Pilot: 17 MALDI, 4,000, so established, clear for ILS 15 right, JetBlue 1191.
{ts:445}
ATC: Connect Boston tower 134.05.
Pilot: 134.05, good night. JetBlue 1191.
Aircraft Details and Crew Response
The Airbus A321 involved is a standard part of JetBlue’s fleet, equipped for medium-haul domestic operations. The crew followed established procedures for cabin air contamination, overweight landing planning, and cockpit security confirmation.
The radio communication transcript indicates the pilots remained composed, compliant with ATC instructions, and proactive in providing operational data. The decision to return to BOS was made quickly, reflecting safety-first protocol when crew health or aircraft performance may be affected.
Smoking of any kind, including vaping devices and marijuana, is prohibited on all US commercial flights. Such actions are treated as security disturbances and can result in federal penalties. Cabin air contamination can impair crew performance, prompting immediate safety assessments and, when necessary, emergency procedures.
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