Man attempts to enter cockpit of aircraft at Montana airport after bypassing TSA, injuring three people during rampage
A man was able to bypass the TSA when he tried to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines plane, injuring three people.
Justin Seymour, 34, was arrested on October 22 after he tried to board Flight 697 on the runway at Missoula Montana Airport, claiming that “bad people” told him to take the plane to Seattle, Washington and then Estonia to fly. KGVO reports.
Authorities say Seymour breached the TSA security line, prompting officers to shout “Stop him!” shouted. and ‘break, breach, breach!’
He then ran to gate A1, where Alaska Airlines Flight 697 had just arrived and departed.
A brave Horizon Air employee tried to stop him as he approached the plane, but Seymour allegedly pushed her to the ground, causing her to strain the tendon muscles connected to her collarbone, according to charging documents.
Justin Seymour, 34, was arrested on October 22 after bypassing a TSA security checkpoint in his attempt to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines plane
He told officers that “bad people” told him to fly the plane to Seattle, Washington and then to Estonia
With no other employee in the way, Seymour was then able to board the Alaska Airlines plane.
But when a flight attendant saw Seymour enter the plane, she tried to ban him from the cockpit.
However, Seymour simply pushed her against the cockpit door and tried to get in, according to court documents.
At that point, another flight attendant tried to temporarily distract Seymour to get him to look away while she tried to turn the deadbolt on the door to prevent him from entering.
When Seymour saw this, he allegedly crushed the hand and fingers of the attendant between the cockpit door and the door frame.
Police were finally able to catch up with him shortly afterwards, at which point he reportedly started shouting that he had to travel to Estonia.
Police then arrested him and led him off the plane.
Seymour later allegedly admitted to rushing through security at Missoula Montana Airport
When questioned, court documents show, Seymour told officers that “all I had to do was fly the plane, but I didn’t… I thought I could do that.”
He allegedly explained that “bad people” had told him to fly the plane to Seattle and then to Estonia.
When Seymour was later asked if he knew he had bypassed the security checkpoint, he replied that he had “run through it,” KGVO reported.
When subsequently asked if he knew how to fly the plane, Seymour is reported to have said, “It seems easy enough to learn.”
He was subsequently taken into custody at the Missoula County Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $500,000 bond.
He is charged with criminal mischief, aggravated burglary and theft.