A 90-year-old grandfather who flew to Florida to celebrate his birthday died after suffering a stroke on a JetBlue flight, and his daughter claims the airline failed to assist him. Diane Anacabe has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against JetBlue on behalf of her father John Allen Fletcher's estate, blaming the airline for his untimely death. 'I just couldn't even believe it,' she told The Independent. 'Are they heartless? I don't understand it… I can’t make sense of anything that took place that day.'
Fletcher, a New Hampshire resident, boarded Flight 321 from Boston to Palm Beach on April 22, 2025, heading to his 90th birthday celebration, according to the lawsuit. He drove himself to the airport, had lunch, and boarded without assistance. Fletcher sat in seat 2F, with a view of the flight crew.
Upon landing at Palm Beach International Airport, Fletcher stood up to deplane but collapsed back into his seat due to a stroke. He tried to get help, but his speech was garbled. Another passenger asked if he was okay and informed the flight crew as they deplaned. However, the crew allegedly waited for the plane to clear before approaching Fletcher, who was in visible distress and sprawled across seats.
'As all of the other passengers exited the aircraft, Mr. Fletcher remained immobilized in his seat, unable to speak clearly, his balance impaired, his vision affected, and otherwise exhibiting the classic signs of a stroke,' the complaint read. 'Notwithstanding the obvious existence of a medical emergency, JetBlue made no effort whatsoever to obtain medical attention for Mr. Fletcher.'
The crew called for a non-emergency wheelchair attendant, the lawsuit said, and failed to contact his relatives, even though he wore a Medi-Alert medallion with his daughter's name. Anacabe accused the airline of 'dumping' her father into a wheelchair to 'get rid of him.' An attendant brought Fletcher to baggage claim, where Anacabe, a nurse, immediately noticed he was having a stroke—his left arm nearly dragging on the floor. When she asked the attendant to call 911, she was told they were not allowed to.
Approximately one hour after landing, Fletcher received medical attention and was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center on a stretcher. He died 13 days later from the effects of the stroke, spending his 90th birthday in the hospital. Before the flight, Anacabe said her father was healthy and active. The Vietnam veteran had hiked a glacier for his 80th birthday and was 'jumping into the pool doing cannonballs at 89.' He served 20 years in the US Air Force and built jet fighter engines for Pratt and Whitney.
Fletcher was traveling to a birthday party with 26 relatives, including four great-grandchildren. JetBlue filed to dismiss the lawsuit but was denied. 'We take the health and safety of our customers and crewmembers very seriously,' a spokesperson said. Anacabe demands a jury trial and at least $50,000 in damages.
