JetBlue Pilots Drugged, Raped Female Co-Workers, Suit Alleges

Two JetBlue pilots are accused of drugging and raping three female co-workers during a flight layover in Puerto Rico en route to Newark in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court.

The lawsuit, filed March 18 in federal court in New York on behalf of two of the three women, also accuses JetBlue of sex discrimination over what the plaintiffs say was a failure to take action against the pilots, Eric Johnson and Dan Watson.

According to the lawsuit, the three women — listed as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, plus a third crewmember — were on an overnight layover in San Juan on May 9, 2018, with a flight the following morning to Newark.

While sitting on the beach, the third crewmember met Johnson and Watson, and after learning they all worked for JetBlue, all five began talking. Johnson handed one of the women an opened beer, which each of the three women drank from. They allege they felt the effects of the drug soon after. Two of the women were assaulted in one room, while the third was not because she started vomiting, according to the lawsuit. Johnson is accused of raping the women, while Watson left after he was scratched by one and is accused of conspiring to rape them, the lawsuit says.

"JetBlue takes allegations of violent or inappropriate behavior very seriously and investigates such claims thoroughly," the New York Daily News reported, quoting a statement from the airline. "We work to create a respectful workplace for all our crewmembers where they feel welcome and safe."

In the lawsuit, Jane Doe 1 says her memory of the events was spotty, but remembers Johnson vaginally penetrating her, and later seeing Johnson having sexual intercourse with the third crew member.

"Thank you for making my fantasy come true," the lawsuit alleged Johnson said to Jane Doe 1 after the alleged assault of her and the third crewmember.

Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 say in the lawsuit they have never had a similar reaction to drinking alcohol.

The three women flew from Puerto Rico to Newark the next day and found themselves vomiting in the bathroom on the plane on the flight back, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit, uploaded to Scribd, says the plaintiff listed as Jane Doe 1, went to the hospital and reported she had been sexually assaulted as soon as the flight from Puerto Rico landed in Newark. She alleges Johnson intentionally gave her a sexually transmitted disease that she tested positive for shortly after the flight.

Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 said they reported the assault and attempted assault to Jet Blue, but say the airline did not take action against the two men.

The lawsuit, filed in New York because JetBlue's corporate offices are in Queens, accuses the airline of discriminating against the women on the basis of their gender through the failure to take action against the two pilots, and seeks "at least" $75,000 for each woman as compensation.

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