A JetBlue pilot who was locked out of the cockpit by his co-pilot after his odd midflight rants in March was ruled competent to stand trial Friday morning . U.S. District Court Judge Mary Lou Robinson ruled that JetBlue Capt . Clayton Osbon is `` mentally competent , that he is able to understand and does understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him , and that he is able to assist properly in his defense , '' according to a court order . Osbon attorney Dean Roper plans on using an insanity defense , according to court documents filed April 18 . The pilot was indicted April 11 , in a federal court in Amarillo , Texas , accused of interfering with a flight crew . The flight landed safely in Amarillo after the incident , according to the indictment filed that day . Osbon is still employed by JetBlue `` but is removed from active duty , '' JetBlue spokeswoman Allison Steinberg wrote in an e-mail . She declined to answer questions about the hearing : `` We do n't comment on pending litigation . '' This week , a group of 10 passengers who were aboard the March 27 flight out of John F. Kennedy International Airport that was diverted because of Osbon 's erratic behavior filed a lawsuit against the airline and pilot Wednesday in state Supreme Court in Queens . The lawsuit , which was obtained by CNN , accuses JetBlue of being grossly negligent for allowing Osbon to fly and says the airline knew or should have known that Osbon was unfit to fly . As the Airbus A320 was climbing out of New York 's John F. Kennedy International Airport on its way to Las Vegas , Osbon talked about his church and needing to `` focus , '' an FBI affidavit said . He then told the co-pilot to take the controls and to work the radio , and began talking about religion , making statements that were incoherent , it says . The lawsuit alleges that Osbon caused significant distress to the passengers , specifically by yelling obscenities and things such as `` Say your prayers , '' `` We 're all going down , '' `` I 'm going to show you Iraq and Iran right now '' and `` There 's a bomb on board . '' Pilot breakdown draws attention to mental health standards . The concerned co-pilot suggested that they invite an off-duty JetBlue captain into the cockpit . Instead , Osbon `` abruptly left the cockpit to go to the forward lavatory , '' the affidavit says . The co-pilot used the opportunity to get the off-duty captain into the cockpit and change the combination to the door lock . When Osbon tried to enter his code into the cockpit door lock , the co-pilot announced an order to restrain him over the public address system . Several passengers wrestled Osbon to the floor . The flight was diverted to Amarillo , and Osbon was taken into custody .
Ruling : A pilot who had a meltdown fit to stand trial . ' He is ` ` mentally competent , '' judge rules . During the trial , he allegedly ranted incoherently about politics , terrorism .