The daughter of an 89-year-old Vietnam veteran who died after suffering a stroke on a JetBlue flight has broken her silence, accusing the airline of heartlessness. John Allen Fletcher experienced a massive stroke as JetBlue flight 321 from Boston to Palm Beach International Airport arrived at the gate last April. According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in January by his daughter, Diane Anacabe, the flight crew allegedly ignored the medical emergency, leaving him immobilized in his seat while other passengers deplaned.
What happened on the flight?
Fletcher, a former U.S. Air Force veteran and Pratt and Whitney engineer, stood up to retrieve his carry-on bag after landing and collapsed back into his seat. The lawsuit states he displayed classic stroke symptoms, including slurred speech, impaired balance, and vision issues, yet the crew did not call for medical assistance. Instead, they requested a non-emergency wheelchair attendant to remove him from the aircraft. Despite Fletcher wearing a MedicAlert necklace with his daughter’s contact information, no effort was made to reach her.
Daughter’s account
Anacabe, a registered nurse, was waiting at baggage claim and grew concerned when her father did not appear. She spotted him being wheeled in, slumped over with his left arm dragging. She shouted for the attendant to call 911, but was told it was against policy. It took another hour before Fletcher saw a doctor, and he died 13 days later. His physician stated that timely intervention would have saved his life.
“I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing,” Anacabe told The Independent. “Are they heartless? I can’t make sense of anything that took place that day.”
Lawsuit details
The lawsuit, filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, seeks damages from JetBlue and ABM Aviation, the wheelchair attendant’s employer. It alleges the crew violated JetBlue’s own internal policies for medical emergencies. JetBlue denied the allegations in a motion to dismiss, which was denied earlier this month. A spokesperson previously stated, “We take the health and safety of our customers and crewmembers very seriously.”
Family’s grief
Fletcher, who lived independently and was in excellent health, had flown alone to Florida for his 90th birthday celebration with 26 relatives. His daughter described him as active, hiking a glacier at 80 and doing cannonballs in the pool at 89. “He was incredible,” she said, adding that she feels he was “dumped like a piece of garbage” at the airport. The family hopes their lawsuit will prevent similar tragedies.
