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This is why we call it the “Pilot In Command” This happened in the same vicinity where the ill-fated Lear Jet hit the storm cell. JetBlue pilot en route from Fort Lauderdale to Austin says to ATC: “So you're gonna make us go through a, uh, severe thunderstorm?” The captain then commanded the situation and overrode the ATC: “So we declare an emergency, making a left turn heading 260 for severe weather avoidance.” Sometimes piloting demands a specific set of traits - decisiveness, independent judgment, and the backbone to reject an instruction when it doesn’t feel right. Refusing the assigned heading showed exactly that kind of assertive leadership. Whoever is pilot monitoring must make these tough calls but ultimately, the captain is the final authority and ultimately accountable for every soul on board.