JetBlue Pilot Arrested Before Flight for Alleged Sexual Exploitation

BOSTON — A JetBlue pilot was arrested Thursday evening at Boston‘s Logan International Airport just before a scheduled flight to Paris after officials discovered an active warrant for his arrest from North Carolina.

Jeremy Gudorf, 33, of Ohio, was apprehended onboard around 8:40 p.m. after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identified the warrant during a routine review of the flight’s manifest. Massachusetts State Police confirmed the arrest following the discovery.

According to prosecutors, Gudorf faces charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from an investigation by the Huntersville Police Department in North Carolina. The arrest warrant was issued after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities in October 2024 about potential evidence linked to Gudorf.

Upon his arrest, Gudorf was arraigned in East Boston District Court on Friday, where he was also charged as a fugitive from justice. Prosecutors requested that he be held without bail, citing the serious nature of the charges and his potential flight risk. “He does have the financial capacity to rent a car and drive to North Carolina,” said defense attorney Tanvi Verma. “He has assured me he will do that.”

During the court proceedings, Verma emphasized Gudorf’s intention to return to North Carolina. She noted that her client has no prior criminal history. However, prosecutor Kyle Neyman insisted on the necessity of caution, stating, “These are serious charges. The news is here. He’s not just going to be able to run away from this.”

The judge ultimately set Gudorf’s bail at $10,000, allowing him to retain his passport under the condition he report back to North Carolina by February 25. A subsequent court date in Massachusetts is set for March 19, contingent on the status of the North Carolina warrant.

JetBlue Airlines responded to the incident by placing Gudorf on “indefinite leave.” In a company statement, they said, “We are aware of and closely reviewing the arrest of one of our pilots upon reporting for work at Boston’s Logan Airport Thursday evening due to an outstanding warrant.”

The specifics of Gudorf’s case were not detailed in court, but it was revealed that the warrant originated from allegations while he resided in Huntersville, N.C. Police indicated they obtained a search warrant for Google in relation to the case, leading to the identification of evidence against Gudorf.

As the investigation continues, JetBlue states they are cooperating fully with law enforcement proceedings regarding the arrest.