Amidst the joy of reaching a new milestone, the family of a 90-year-old man is grappling with tragedy. The daughter of John Allen Fletcher has accused JetBlue of negligence after her father suffered a stroke mid-flight to Florida. Fletcher, who was traveling to celebrate his 90th birthday, never made it to the festivities.
Diane Anacabe, Fletcher’s daughter, has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the airline, claiming that JetBlue’s inaction contributed to her father’s untimely passing. Anacabe expressed her disbelief and frustration in an interview with The Independent, saying, “I just couldn’t even believe it. Are they heartless? I don’t understand it… I can’t make sense of anything that took place that day.”
Fletcher, who resided in New Hampshire, had been on JetBlue’s Flight 321 from Boston to Palm Beach on April 22, 2025, when the incident occurred. According to the lawsuit, which was accessed by the Daily Mail, he had independently driven to the airport and enjoyed a meal before boarding his flight, showing no signs of needing assistance.
The lawsuit underscores the family’s belief that more could have been done to save Fletcher’s life, a sentiment that is at the heart of the legal action taken against the airline. As the case unfolds, it raises questions about the protocols airlines have in place for medical emergencies and the responsibilities they bear toward their passengers.
Fletcher, who lived in New Hampshire, boarded Flight 321 from Boston to Palm Beach on April 22, 2025, to head to his 90th birthday celebration, the lawsuit, viewed by the Daily Mail, said.
The grandfather had driven himself to the airport, where he enjoyed lunch, before boarding his flight to Florida without aid, his daughter said.
Fletcher sat in seat 2F, which had views of the flight crew, the lawsuit said.
Upon landing at Palm Beach International Airport, Fletcher stood up to deplane, only to find himself collapsing back into his seat as he suffered from a stroke, the lawsuit claimed.
John Allen Fletcher, 90, of New Hampshire, died 13 days after reportedly suffering a stroke on a JetBlue flight in April 2025
His daughter, Diane Anacabe, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the airline, saying they failed to render aid to her father
He attempted to get the attention of other passengers around him, but his speech had become ‘garbled,’ the lawsuit said.
Another passenger reportedly asked if Fletcher was okay and went to inform the flight crew as they deboarded the JetBlue flight.
However, the flight crew allegedly waited for the plane to clear out before approaching Fletcher, who was in ‘visible distress’ and was ‘sprawled across the seats,’ the complaint read.
‘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,’ it said.
‘Notwithstanding the obvious existence of a medical emergency, JetBlue made no effort whatsoever to obtain medical attention for Mr. Fletcher.’
The flight crew reportedly called for a ‘non-emergency wheelchair attendant,’ the lawsuit said, and failed to contact his relatives, even though he was wearing a Medi-Alert medallion with one of his daughter’s names on it.
Anacabe accused the airliner of just ‘dumping’ her father into a wheelchair to get ‘rid of him’ so they could ‘go on about their business uncaringly.’
An attendant brought Fletcher to baggage claim, where he was reunited with Anacabe, who is a nurse. She immediately noticed her father was having a stroke, as his left arm was nearly dragging on the floor, she said.
Fletcher, pictured with two of his daughters, was healthy prior to getting on the flight, but when it landed in Palm Beach, he suffered a stroke. After everyone deplaned, crew would call for a ‘non-emergency wheelchair assistant’ where he would be rolled to baggage claim
Fletcher, pictured with his daughter, finally received medical care an hour after landing in Palm Beach once his relative saw him, the lawsuit said
When she asked the attendant to call 911, she was told they were not allowed to.
Approximately one hour after landing, Fletcher would receive medical attention as he was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center on a stretcher.
Thirteen days later, he died from the effects of the stroke in the hospital, the lawsuit said.
He spent his 90th birthday in the hospital.
Prior to the flight, Anacabe said her father was healthy and very active. The Vietnam veteran had hiked up a glacier for his 80th birthday in Alaska, and was ‘jumping into the pool doing cannonballs at 89,’ she told The Independent.
‘I was yelling at him that he was going to break a hip, but he thought it was fun,’ she said. ‘He would be on the floor with my grandchildren, playing. The guy didn’t stop.’
Fletcher had also spent two decades in the US Air Force and spent the second half of his life building jet fighter engines for Pratt and Whitney, his daughter said.
Fletcher was traveling to Florida to attend his 90th birthday party, where the family had rented an Airbnb to host 26 relatives, including four of his seven great-grandchildren, Anacabe said.
After 13 days in the hospital, Fletcher died. He spent his 90th birthday in the hospital. JetBlue filed to dismiss the lawsuit, but was denied
A motion from JetBlue to dismiss the lawsuit was denied.
‘We take the health and safety of our customers and crewmembers very seriously,’ a spokesperson told The Independent.
The Daily Mail has reached out to JetBlue and ABM, which is in charge of the wheelchair service, for comment.
Anacabe is demanding a jury trial and an award of at least $50,000 in damages.
