David Neeleman, founder and chairman of JetBlue Airways. - Photo courtesy JetBlue image:35659:0::0

Gokhan Mutlu is not a happy flyer after allegedly being forced by a Jet Blue pilot to sit in the bathroom for nearly three hours of a flight from San Diego to New York.
Originally according to Mr Multu, he was able to get on the flight as a standby passenger last February when a stewardess volunteered to sit in the jump seat, and let Mr. Mutlu have her regular seat on the plane. Part way through the flight though, the stewardess complained about being uncomfortable and the pilot asked Mr. Mutlu to give up his seat. Gokhan then asked the pilot if he would be required to use the jump seat and the pilot informed MR. Mutlu the jump seat was for flight personnel only.

When Gokhan asked if he would be required to stand for the rest of the three and a half hour flight the pilot suggested Gokhan

Mutlu should just "go and 'hang out' in the bathroom,"

At this point Mr. Mutlu began to argue and the pilot seems to have taken on the role of Captain Bligh from Mutiny on the Bounty.

"became angry at the plaintiff's reluctance to go . . . to take his place in the rest room and took a much harsher tone with the plaintiff, advising him that he was the pilot, that this was his plane, under his command, and that the plaintiff should be grateful for being on board,"

according to the lawsuit being placed against JetBlue for emotional distress by Mutlu's attorney.

While it is easy to understand the discomfort, it's not so easy to figure out how this might have actually occurred on a recognized air carrier. This occurrence if true seems to fall in the "What were they thinking" category.