JetBlue Cites Bird Strike After Flight 882 Delay in Saint Lucia

JetBlue flight 882 from saint lucia to New York JFK was canceled on Friday after a bird strike damaged the left engine. Passengers were rebooked on an 11 a.m. Saturday departure, but JetBlue told them it would not provide hotel rooms overnight.

Gary Leff On JetBlue

Gary Leff, the View from the Wing author, wrote that JetBlue was refusing hotel accommodations and argued the airline was legally correct because a bird strike is uncontrollable. The passenger message quoted in the source said, "JetBlue is now refusing hotel accommodations for passengers rebooked on an 11 AM flight tomorrow."

JetBlue’s Response

JetBlue said, "We know flight disruptions are challenging. Please know this is considered uncontrollable situation. If you purchased travel insurance or have a travel credit card, we'll be able to provide proof of disruption for your claim. We appreciate your understanding." The airline also said it did not cause the problem and had no obligation to cover passenger costs.

Bird Strike Rules

The source said a bird strike is not treated as a mechanical issue in the sense that JetBlue failed to maintain the plane. It also pointed to EU261 and said European airlines do not have to compensate passengers for delays after a bird strike under the European Court of Justice. For passengers on flight 882, the immediate change was simple: a Friday departure from saint lucia became an overnight wait and a Saturday morning rebooking.