A 34-year old man bypassed security and attempted to gain control of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 at the Missoula, Montana airport on October 22nd – injuring multiple airline employees in the process. He was trying to hijack the plane and take it to Seattle, and then Estonia.
The confrontation began as TSA officers shouted, “Stop him!” followed by a cry of “breach, breach, breach!” as he headed towards the boarding gates. Alaska Airlines Flight 697 had just completed its landing and begun deplaning at Gate A1 when the man charged down the jet bridge to board the aircraft.
As he neared the gate, a Horizon Air employee intercepted Seymour, standing in his path to prevent him from proceeding. Seymour forcefully shoved the employee to the ground, causing a tendon strain near her clavicle. This allowed Seymour to advance to the plane, where he was met by an Alaska Airlines flight attendant who positioned herself between the man and the cockpit.
Undeterred, Seymour shoved the flight attendant against the cockpit door, continuing his attempt to breach the flight deck. Another flight attendant intervened, trying to distract him while simultaneously attempting to secure the cockpit by rotating the deadbolt. During this struggle, Seymour pressed against the cockpit door, crushing the flight attendant’s hand and fingers in the door frame.
Moments later, law enforcement arrived on board, while the man insisted he needed to reach Estonia because “bad people” told him he needed to commandeer the aircraft, connect in Seattle, and then fly onward. He doesn’t know how to fly, though, but explained that “It seems easy enough to learn.” Sort of like when I bought a manual transmission Geo Storm when I turned 18, and learned to drive stick by heading right out onto a main thoroughfare.
He was taken to the Missoula County Detention Facility, where he was held on felony robbery and felony aggravated burglary charges with a $500,000 bond.
Enilria says, “I guess if you live in Missoula, you know you still need to connect in Seattle even for a hijacking.” The aircraft, of course, wouldn’t make it 60% of the way from Seattle to Tallinn without refueling.
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