Facts and YouTube video of SeaTac employee that took plane.

[nolabear]

So strange. He seems smart and engaged. There are always things we don’t know but so far this is still quite a mystery.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6050339/Seattle-plane-hijackers-final-YouTube-post-reveals-boredom-job.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490

[MaryMagdaline]

1. Perhaps true mental illness this time

He obviously exposed a huge security gap. Not very comforting.

[nolabear]

2. I don't know how you could fill that gap, honestly.

Security is really tight for employees. And he’d been there for years. It would be nice to think you could assure nothing bad would ever happen but frankly I don’t see how.

[MaryMagdaline]

4. I don't know how either. I shudder to think what could have happened.

[LincolnRossiter]

3. Such a sad situation...We really have to do better with mental health in this country.

My mom works in the field and is of the mind that until we reach a place where we just classify "mental health" as just "health" and diagnose, treat, and monitor it like we do our hearts, blood pressure, breasts, prostates, and the rest of our physical health we're never going to turn the bend--no matter how much money we spend on mental illness. A full mental wellness check (like an hour on the couch) should be a part of every annual physical for any identified at-risk individual. The five minute questionnaire that our family docs give us isn't cutting it.

[MaryMagdaline]

5. I agree with all of the above but I also think we've come a long way in dealing with the stigma

And some of the medicines are life-altering. I have schizophrenia in my family and extended family. The new medicines have permitted certain family members to function beyond what was possible even 25 years ago. Many, many people I know take anti-depressants and are able to work and take care of families. I wish I would live to see a cure. The human suffering is great.

[malaise]

6. This one is tragic in many ways

I read that he was a baggage handler. Have to wonder if he was taking pain killers for his back.
I'd bet money on that.

[exboyfil]

7. I thought he was a mechanic

Which would be understable how he could start the plane's engines. Someone who is not a pilot or a mechanic should never have the ability to start a plane's engines. It seems like a huge security hole that has been revealed.

[JI7]

8. glad he didn't take anyone else's life

[steve2470]

9. more info from the Seattle Times

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/live-updates-airplane-taken-from-seattle-tacoma-international-airport-crashes/

How it unfolded: Full coverage of the Horizon Air crash and the man who stole the plane from Sea-Tac


and:


https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/stolen-horizon-jet-a-serious-breach-could-point-to-flaws-in-airport-security-expert-says/

Stolen Horizon Air plane ‘a serious breach,’ raises questions about airport security

[RainCaster]

10. They didn't know him at all

My wife spent this afternoon consoling a friend who worked with him. He was a very normal guy, friendly open, loved to travel. Not your typical loner. Ground crew does more than schlep bags. He had been taught the startup sequence so that towing the plane could be easier, with hydraulics.