The copilot asked a flight attendant to bring the
non-revenue (passenger) captain to the cockpit while
Osbon was in the lavatory. The non-rev captain assisted
the copilot the rest of the flight. Osbon came out of
the lavatory and began talking to flight attendants but
was not making sense.
Osbon mentioned "150 souls on board". Osbon walked to
the back of aircraft. On his way, he stopped and asked a
male passenger if he had a problem. Osbon sprinted back
toward the galley, and the flight attendants gave chase.
The flight attendants had already notified certain
passengers they may need their help. Osbon started
trying to enter his code in order to re-enter the
cockpit, and he banged on the door hard enough that the
copilot thought he was coming through the door.
The copilot and non-rev captain locked the cockpit door
from the inside. The copilot announced over the PA
system an ordered Osbon be restrained. The flight
attendants were already trying to stop Osbon from
entering his code. Several passengers jumped in to help
and brought Osbon down in the forward galley. One female
flight attendant suffered bruised ribs during the
struggle. According to one of the passengers who
assisted, Osbon said "pray fucking now for Jesus
Christ".
Osbon also yelled jumbled comments about Jesus,
September 11th, Iraq, Iran, and terrorists. He also
yelled "Guys, push it to full throttle". The copilot
declared an emergency and diverted the aircraft to
Amarillo. The flight attendants elected to have the
aircraft land without having the assisting passengers
return to their seats, because the flight attendants
felt they could not risk letting Osbon get up off the
floor. The aircraft landed with passengers still
restraining Osbon in the galley.
Judge Robinson ruled that Osbon has a factual and
rational understanding of the charges and
proceedings against him, and is able to understand
the nature and consequences of the proceedings
against him, is not now suffering from a mental
disease or defect which would interfere with his
ability to meet the legal criteria of competency to
stand trial, Osbon is legally competent to stand
trial and that this case (United States Of America
v. Clayton Frederick Osbon No. 2:12-Cr-017-J) should
proceed on.
July 3, 2012 – Update - After reviewing evidence, Amarillo,
Texas, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson ruled
that Clayton F. Osbon was not guilty by reason of
insanity for his behavior on a March 27 flight from
New York to Las Vegas in which he was charged with
interference with a flight crew. Court documents
revealed that Osbon under went a psychological
evaluation after the March 27 incident and that a
treating psychologist indicated Osbon’s "brief
psychotic disorder" was due to lack of sleep. Osbon
will undergo more evaluations at a federal mental
health facility before a scheduled court hearing in
August. At that time, a judge will decide whether
the former pilot will be released or head to a
mental facility.
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