FLORIDA- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit filed against JetBlue Airways (B6) and ground services provider ABM Aviation, following the death of passenger John Allen Fletcher after a domestic flight in April 2025. The legal action alleges that clear medical distress was ignored after landing, allowing a stroke to escalate into a fatal emergency.
The estate claims Fletcher became incapacitated immediately after arrival from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), yet neither airline personnel nor airport staff initiated emergency medical response procedures. The lawsuit argues that delayed intervention directly contributed to his death nearly two weeks later.
JetBlue Faces Lawsuit Amid Failure
According to the court filing, Fletcher showed visible signs of a stroke while deplaning, including slurred speech and an inability to stand.
Fellow passengers reportedly alerted cabin crew to his condition, but the complaint states no medical assistance was requested at that stage.
Instead of calling emergency services, a non-emergency wheelchair service was requested to remove him from the aircraft. The lawsuit claims Fletcher was taken to a baggage area and left unattended while his condition deteriorated.
Family members allege they discovered him slumped in a wheelchair and immediately requested emergency assistance. The filing states that an airport employee declined to call 911, citing internal restrictions.
Timeline of Events
The lawsuit states Fletcher boarded the aircraft in stable health and experienced no inflight medical issues. Upon landing, he reportedly suffered a severe stroke as he stood to exit the aircraft.
Emergency medical responders were not called until more than an hour after the plane arrived at the gate. Fletcher was later transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, where he remained for 13 days before passing away on May 5, 2025.
The estate claims his seating in the premium cabin placed him in clear view of crew members, strengthening allegations that warning signs were visible and unaddressed.
Legal And Safety Context
Commercial airlines are required to provide reasonable medical assistance when a passenger is in distress. Cabin crew are trained in first aid, CPR, and the use of onboard emergency equipment, including defibrillators.
While federal law protects airlines from liability during many medical emergencies, those protections do not extend to cases involving alleged gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The lawsuit asserts that both JetBlue and ABM Aviation failed to follow basic medical response protocols.
The family argues that the delay in care reflects a systemic failure rather than an isolated oversight. The case seeks damages for wrongful death, pain and suffering, and alleged disregard for passenger safety obligations.
Bottom Line
The lawsuit against JetBlue and ABM Aviation raises serious questions about how post-landing medical emergencies are handled at major U.S. airports.
The outcome could have broader implications for airline medical response standards and ground service accountability.
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