MISSOULA, Mont. (WKRC) – A man who allegedly breached TSA security and attempted to enter the cockpit of a plane said “bad people” told him to fly to Estonia.
According to KGVO,34-year-old Justin Reed Seymour was taken into custody after he allegedly attempted to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines plane. The outlet reported that Alaska Airlines Flight 697 was in the process of deplaning at Missoula International Airport in Missoula, Minnesota when Seymour allegedly entered the airport and breached the TSA security line.
KGVO reported that TSA officers and an airport police officer chased Seymour as he ran for the boarding gates. A Horizon Air employee noticed Seymour approaching and stood in the way to block him from getting through the gate, per the outlet.
The report states that Seymour allegedly shoved her out of the way, causing her to suffer an injury. The 34-year-old then boarded the aircraft and made for the cockpit, shoving an Alaska Airlines attendant along the way when she attempted to block him from the flight deck, per KGVO.
According to the report, Seymour reached the cockpit door, and an attendant tried to turn the deadbolt. The attendant’s hand and fingers were crushed between the door and frame however when Seymour attempted to force his way through.
Soon after, authorities boarded the aircraft, with Seymour reportedly telling that he had to get to Estonia. The 34-year-old was removed from the aircraft and taken into custody, per the outlet.
Citing court documents, KGVO reported that Seymour told authorities “all I had to do was fly the plane but I didn’t. I thought I was going to be able to,” going on to tell officers that “bad people” had instructed him to take the aircraft to Seattle, and then fly to Estonia.
When asked if he knew how to fly a plane, the 34-year-old told officers that “it seems easy enough to learn.”
According to KGVO, Seymour was taken to the Missoula County Detention Facility and is charged with the following:
- Felony aggravated burglary
He is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to information found on the jail’s website.