“Bad people told me to do it!”: Alaska Airlines crew foils Montana man's bizarre attempt to hijack a 737 to Estonia

“Bad people told me to do it!”: Alaska Airlines crew foils Montana man's bizarre attempt to hijack a 737 to Estonia

from Gary Leff on October 30, 2024

A 34-year-old man bypassed security and attempted to gain control of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 at Missoula, Montana, airport on October 22 – injuring several airline employees. He tried to hijack the plane and take it to Seattle and then to Estonia.

The confrontation began when TSA officers shouted, “Stop him!” followed by a shout of “Break, break, break!” as he walked toward the gates. Alaska Airlines Flight 697 had just completed its landing and was beginning to deplane at Gate A1 when the man rushed down the jet bridge to board the plane.

As he approached the gate, a Horizon Air employee intercepted Seymour and stood in his way to prevent him from continuing his flight. Seymour forcefully pushed the employee to the ground, causing a strained tendon near her collarbone. This allowed Seymour to get to the plane, where he was met by an Alaska Airlines flight attendant who positioned herself between the man and the cockpit.

Undeterred, Seymour pushed the flight attendant against the cockpit door and continued his attempt to break through the flight deck. Another flight attendant intervened and tried to distract him while at the same time trying to secure the cockpit by turning the latch. During this struggle, Seymour pushed against the cockpit door, crushing the flight attendant's hand and fingers in the door frame.

Moments later, security arrived on board and the man insisted he had to get to Estonia because “bad people” told him he had to take over the plane, change in Seattle and then fly on. Although he doesn't know how to fly, he explained, “It seems easy enough to learn.” Kind of like when I bought a manual Geo Storm when I was 18 and learned to drive the stick by going straight up drove along a main road.

He was taken to the Missoula County Detention Center, where he was being held on $500,000 bail on robbery and aggravated burglary charges.

Enilria says, “I think if you live in Missoula, you know that even if a plane is hijacked, you still need a connection in Seattle.” Of course, without refueling, the plane wouldn't make 60% of the route from Seattle to Tallinn.

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