Man tries to steal SkyWest aircraft!

[mawheatley]

Full story here:
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/sta...lGyj_rEjQ.cspx

Apparently he's a licensed, commercial pilot, an employee of SkyWest who was on administrative leave.

He clipped another aircraft, a fence, damaged the terminal and some cars, then killed himself.

[Eric Diffoot]

Wow. The fact that it occured around midnight, especially at an untowered airport and on top of a plateau away from the city of St. George. Surprised he got into the CRJ, powered it up, clipped the terminal, and crashed it into parked cars....some serious security reviews are going to happen soon.

[AVION1]

I assume the runway was closed, and lights were off.
So he was trying to take off from a dark runway.
In some airports you can turn on the lights, with your mic. with just 3 clicks.
Not sure about this airport.

[Deadstick]

He must have been drunk!

[Evan]

...fob?

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by AVION1

I assume the runway was closed, and lights were off.
So he was trying to take off from a dark runway.
In some airports you can turn on the lights, with your mic. with just 3 clicks.
Not sure about this airport.

According to the Airport Facility Directory in AOPA's iPod app, the St. George airport has pilot controlled lighting. I'm going to assume that if he was a Sky West pilot based in Utah, he was probably familiar with the St. George airport. It will be interesting to find out what the investigation reveals.

The knee-jerk TSA reaction will probably include preventing pilots from having access to the aircraft without a complete background check and psychological exam prior to each flight...

[orangehuggy]

By far the strangest airliner occurrence this century, my calculations did not predict this

[Deadstick]

Yes but what if he didn't have his charts and didn't know the secret code for turning on the runway lights! There could be a hidden conspiracy about running through the fence, crashing into cars and then shooting himself! Did he shut down the engines? Did he have the reverser buckets out? Did he shoot himself in the right or left side of the head? These things are all important.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Deadstick

Yes but what if he didn't have his charts and didn't know the secret code for turning on the runway lights! There could be a hidden conspiracy about running through the fence, crashing into cars and then shooting himself! Did he shut down the engines? Did he have the reverser buckets out? Did he shoot himself in the right or left side of the head? These things are all important.

I don't know what you've been smoking, but I want some.

[brianw999]

Originally Posted by Deadstick

Yes but what if he didn't have his charts and didn't know the secret code for turning on the runway lights! There could be a hidden conspiracy about running through the fence, crashing into cars and then shooting himself! Did he shut down the engines? Did he have the reverser buckets out? Did he shoot himself in the right or left side of the head? These things are all important.

....but most important of all is someone removing the capability of your keyboard to select bold type !!!

[3WE]

Originally Posted by Deadstick

Yes but what if he didn't have his charts and didn't know the secret code for turning on the runway lights! There could be a hidden conspiracy about running through the fence, crashing into cars and then shooting himself! Did he shut down the engines? Did he have the reverser buckets out? Did he shoot himself in the right or left side of the head? These things are all important.

There are two reasons why he might have hit the fence.

The Russians, either moved the fence, or modified a navigation beacon to erroneously lead the pilot to the fence.

AND...

Who said he shot himself?

and were there black helicopters and did the fuel tank contain nanoprobes?

[AVION1]

Originally Posted by snydersnapshots

According to the Airport Facility Directory in AOPA's iPod app, the St. George airport has pilot controlled lighting. I'm going to assume that if he was a Sky West pilot based in Utah, he was probably familiar with the St. George airport. It will be interesting to find out what the investigation reveals.

The knee-jerk TSA reaction will probably include preventing pilots from having access to the aircraft without a complete background check and psychological exam prior to each flight...

TSA was too busy patting down old ladies on wheelchairs and little kids...!!

[Fear_of_Flying]

Originally Posted by AVION1

TSA was too busy patting down old ladies on wheelchairs and little kids...!!

Serves the old ladies right for being on little kids - those mean old ladies.