A JetBlue aircraft was forced to execute an emergency landing and return to its departure airport after a passenger was reportedly discovered smoking marijuana in one of the aeroplane's toilets, creating a significant security disturbance.
In-Flight Disturbance at 34,000 Feet
The incident occurred on November 9 aboard flight JBU1191, an Airbus A321 carrying 200 passengers from Boston Logan International Airport to Tampa International Airport. The flight had departed at 5.20pm when the situation unfolded. According to reports, the distinct smell of marijuana smoke wafted from a lavatory into the main cabin, where it was noticed and inhaled by members of the cabin crew.
Audio footage, later shared on the Instagram account @you_can_see_atc, captured the moment the pilot communicated the issue to Air Traffic Control while the plane was cruising at 34,000 feet. The pilot described it as a 'security issue' and a 'disturbance,' explicitly stating, 'They were smoking marijuana. Our crew inhaled it.'
The Decision to Return to Boston
A key factor in the pilot's decision to declare an emergency was the aircraft's weight. The pilot cited an 'overweight landing' as the main reason for the urgent return. This occurs when an aircraft must land with a gross weight exceeding its maximum design landing weight, a situation that requires careful handling and often a longer runway.
Air Traffic Control promptly authorised the return to Boston Logan International Airport, advising the pilot that the longer runway 15R was available if needed. The JetBlue plane subsequently turned around over the Atlantic and landed safely back in Boston at 7.32pm the same evening.
A Pattern of Unruly Passenger Behaviour
This event is the latest in a series of concerning incidents involving disruptive passengers on commercial flights. In a separate case, a Ryanair flight was recently diverted after a passenger allegedly ate pages of his own passport, causing fellow travellers to 'freak out'. Simultaneously, another man on the same flight from Milan to London-Stansted attempted to flush his passport down the toilet, requiring crew intervention to resolve the situation.
The Daily Mail has approached JetBlue for an official comment regarding the marijuana smoking incident and the ensuing emergency landing.
