On my way back to Puerto Rico from NYC, I flew JetBlue Mint (see The Best in the US). I was ready to get off the plane when the flight attendant made the following announcement:
We have lost a JetBlue tablet that contains sensitive information. We cannot let anyone off the plane until the tablet is found.
A few minutes later, the flight attendant made the same announcement. Three questions immediately came to mind: 1) What sensitive information was on the tablet? 2). Isn’t the tablet password-protected for inevitable situations like this? 3) Can JetBlue keep me on the plane?
Curious, I messaged JetBlue on X, formerly known as Twitter.
I have no idea what ‘mandated disembarking procedures’ are. But, before I could ask, the flight attendant allowed those sitting in Mint to disembark. On the way off the plane, I passed multiple police officers. I suspect that the tablet had more information than beverage cart orders.
Does anyone have the answers to my questions?
Flight Attendant devices have Sensitive Security Information (SSI) which is regulated under 49 USC and must not be shared with anyone who is not in the “need to know”. This usually includes flight deck access information, and the code for the door in the event of pilot incapacitation. This info, as well as other security information and classified company information is one of many things on an employee device.
So what happens if it’s not found? Do they search everyone? Detain everyone indefinitely? What if they lost it before the flight?
Can’t answer your question, however it should be noted that there’s no such thing as “sitting in “Mosaic”. The term “Mosaic” is a status level achieved on Jetblue, which I can assume by your confusion you have not. If you’re flying on a Jetblue A321, equipped with business/first class cabin, you’d have the option to sit in what’s called “Mint” seats in the “Mint cabin. I can deduct that’s what you meant, as Jetblue flies that route with “mint” equipment on weekends. I’m curious to know what the legal opinion is on bein held for a missing tablet…
I meant mint. Let me update that. Too many M&M’s
I do not think it’s a matter of national security. I thought they were overstepping their authority until I saw the police outside.
They are definitely overstepping their authority. While pilots make the decision on when to disembark, a missing ipad does not provide good cause to delay. The airline can be fined by DOT and sued by passengers. That said, you are not likely to get much in the way of damages unless the delay was significant. Many of us have waited 60 minutes or more after landing just for a gate to open.
That sounds correct. As a consumer lawyer, I didn’t think it was a ground to sue but as a constitutional law professor, I wasn’t buying their allusion to ‘in the interest of national security’.
Please do not divulge why that tablet is vidal. Oh, you already did John. Don’t you think that puts a target on the tablet? All a pax needs to know is that it has to be found. Question is…can you search pass property looking for it.
Lol a target on the tablet? If it’s that unsecured or important and this was not schemed out then that would be alarming. And I’m sure John isn’t radicalizing a would be bandit.