Deranged Passenger on Boston-Bound Flight Diverts to Orlando

The flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston aboard JetBlue Flight 170 was abruptly rerouted to Orlando due to a disturbance caused by an unidentified male passenger who claimed to be 'the devil' and reportedly physically assaulted a woman he was traveling with, as reported by witnesses. The disruptive incident, which occurred on Thursday evening, led to more than a five-hour delay. The airline confirmed on Friday that the diversion was a result of a disturbance between two passengers. The male passenger, whose identity has not been disclosed, made threatening remarks and assaulted his female companion, according to accounts by witnesses reported by WCVB-TV. A fellow passenger mentioned that flight attendants had to place the woman in the bathroom for her safety, while the disruptive man attempted to force his way in by hitting the door. Another traveler, Max Seelig, who was seated in the front of the aircraft, revealed that the crew informed passengers of a 'pit stop' in Orlando, without specifying the reason to avoid further agitating the unruly passenger. Upon the flight's landing in Orlando, a passenger captured a video of the agitated man, wearing a hoodie and baseball hat, being escorted off the plane by law enforcement officers. The pilot later addressed the passengers, explaining the situation and assuring them of a safe continuation to Boston. The flight eventually proceeded to its original destination after the two passengers were removed with the assistance of law enforcement. All passengers had to disembark in Orlando, wait for refueling and a new crew, before finally reaching Boston at 4:31 a.m. on Friday. Meanwhile, Orlando police disclosed that the disruptive passenger was not arrested, as he was reportedly intoxicated and taken to a local hospital for treatment by the fire department.