JetBlue pilot who left cockpit pleads not guilty

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A JetBlue Airways pilot who left the cockpit during a flight and screamed about religion and terrorists has pleaded not guilty to interfering with a flight crew.

Court records show Clayton F. Osbon entered the plea at his Thursday arraignment in federal court in Amarillo.

U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson ruled earlier this month that Osbon is mentally competent to stand trial. Her ruling followed a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation.

Osbon was indicted after a March 27 incident on flight from Las Vegas to New York. Passengers say they had to wrestle him to the floor after he left the cockpit mid-flight and ran through the plane's cabin yelling about Jesus and al-Qaida.

No trial date has been set. Osbon faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.