A Team USA judo coach lost permanent vision in his right eye after a JetBlue flight attendant dumped scalding coffee on his face and then allegedly berated him for trying to flush out his burning eye in the bathroom.
At a Glance
- Arturas Lanchinskas, a prominent Team USA judo coach, is suing JetBlue after suffering permanent vision loss from an in-flight coffee spill.
- The flight crew allegedly chastised the injured passenger for his frequent bathroom visits as he attempted to treat his scalded eye.
- A federal lawsuit was filed against JetBlue Airways, seeking damages for negligence during the international flight.
- The incident highlights the airline industry’s inadequate safety protocols and what critics call corporate indifference.
- The coach described the pain as a “surge of fire” and a “burning needle” piercing his eye.
Corporate Negligence Destroys a Patriot’s Livelihood
This story perfectly encapsulates everything wrong with corporate America’s attitude toward hardworking citizens. Arturas Lanchinskas, a dedicated Team USA judo coach and owner of a Brooklyn martial arts school, represents the best of American athletic excellence. On a JetBlue flight to Peru on July 12, 2023, to coach at the Pan American Judo Championships, a flight attendant’s carelessness destroyed his vision forever. A pot of scalding coffee was dropped directly onto his face and right eye, causing severe thermal and chemical burns that resulted in permanent vision loss. This isn’t just an accident; it’s a devastating injury caused by corporate negligence that has impacted a patriot’s life and career.
Flying blind: Jetblue attendant splashes scalding coffee in eye of Team USA judo coach: suit https://t.co/E5jK8ZATwB pic.twitter.com/ek5KM9UENY
— New York Post (@nypost) July 19, 2025
Cruelty and Incompetence at 30,000 Feet
The real outrage came after the injury occurred. While Lanchinskas was experiencing what he described as “a surge of fire” and “a burning needle” and desperately trying to save his sight by flushing his eye in the lavatory, the JetBlue crew allegedly made the situation worse. According to the lawsuit, instead of providing aid, the flight attendants chastised and admonished him for his frequent trips to the bathroom. While a doctor on board thankfully provided first aid, the alleged response from the airline’s own crew demonstrates a shocking level of incompetence and lack of basic human decency.
A Lawsuit Demands Accountability
On July 8, 2025, nearly two years after this preventable tragedy, Lanchinskas filed a personal injury lawsuit against JetBlue in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. His attorney, Erin R. Applebaum, is seeking damages for the negligence that cost this American hero his sight. The lawsuit (Case 1:2025cv03779) represents more than just one man’s fight; it’s about holding corporate America accountable when they treat paying customers like disposable inconveniences. So far, JetBlue has not even issued a public statement, a silence that speaks volumes about their corporate arrogance.
