By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-30 00:56:37 | Updated at 2024-10-30 03:27:31
3 hours ago
A man was able to bypass the TSA as he tried to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines plane, injuring three people in the process.
Justin Seymour, 34, was arrested on October 22 after he tried to board Flight 697 on the runway at Missoula Montana Airport, claiming 'bad people' told him to fly the aircraft to Seattle, Washington and then to Estonia, KGVO reports.
Authorities say Seymour breached the TSA security line, causing officers to yell 'Stop him!' and 'breach, breach, breach!'
He then ran over to gate A1, where Alaska Airlines Flight 697 had just taxied in and was deplaning.
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 clavicle, according to charging documents.
Justin Seymour, 34, was arrested on October 22 after he bypassed a TSA security checkpoint in his effort to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines plane
He told officers 'bad people' told him to fly the aircraft to Seattle, Washington and then to Estonia
With no other employee in his way, Seymour was then allegedly able to board the Alaska Airlines plane.
But when a flight attendant saw Seymour enter the plane, she tried to block him from the flight deck.
However, Seymour just pushed her against the cockpit door and tried to enter, court documents say.
At that point, another flight attendant tried to distract Seymour temporarily to get him to look away while she tried to rotate the deadbolt on the door to prevent him from being able to get in.
Upon seeing this, Seymour allegedly crushed the attendant's hand and fingers between the cockpit door and its door frame.
Law enforcement was finally able to catch up to him shortly thereafter, at which point he allegedly started yelling that he needed to travel to Estonia.
Police then arrested him and led him off the plane.
Seymour later allegedly admitted he 'ran through' the security checkpoint at Missoula Montana Airport
Upon questioning, court documents say, Seymour told officers that 'all I had to do was fly the plane, but I didn't.... I thought I was going to be able to.'
He allegedly explained that 'bad people' instructed him to fly the aircraft to Seattle and then to Estonia.
When Seymour was later asked whether he knew he bypassed the security checkpoint, he replied that he 'ran though,' KGVO reports.
Then, when he was asked if he knew how to operate the plane, Seymour allegedly said: 'It seems easy enough to learn.'
He was then taken into custody at the Missoula County Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $500,000 bond.
He faces charges of felony aggravated burglary and felony robbery.
