‘Bad People Told Me To Do It!’: Alaska Airlines Crew Thwarts Montana Man’s Bizarre Attempt To Hijack 737 To Estonia

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

The confrontation began as TSA officers shouted, “Stop him!” followed by a cry of “breach, breach, breach!” as he headed towards the boarding gates. Alaska Airlines Flight 697 had just completed its landing and begun deplaning at Gate A1 when the man charged down the jet bridge to board the aircraft.

As he neared the gate, a Horizon Air employee intercepted Seymour, standing in his path to prevent him from proceeding. Seymour forcefully shoved the employee to the ground, causing a tendon strain near her clavicle. This allowed Seymour to advance to the plane, where he was met by an Alaska Airlines flight attendant who positioned herself between the man and the cockpit.

Undeterred, Seymour shoved the flight attendant against the cockpit door, continuing his attempt to breach the flight deck. Another flight attendant intervened, trying to distract him while simultaneously attempting to secure the cockpit by rotating the deadbolt. During this struggle, Seymour pressed against the cockpit door, crushing the flight attendant’s hand and fingers in the door frame.

Moments later, law enforcement arrived on board, while the man insisted he needed to reach Estonia because “bad people” told him he needed to commandeer the aircraft, connect in Seattle, and then fly onward. He doesn’t know how to fly, though, but explained that “It seems easy enough to learn.” Sort of like when I bought a manual transmission Geo Storm when I turned 18, and learned to drive stick by heading right out onto a main thoroughfare.

He was taken to the Missoula County Detention Facility, where he was held on felony robbery and felony aggravated burglary charges with a $500,000 bond.

Enilria says, “I guess if you live in Missoula, you know you still need to connect in Seattle even for a hijacking.” The aircraft, of course, wouldn’t make it 60% of the way from Seattle to Tallinn without refueling.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. You should bet ‘the house’ on this goofy guy as he’s a lock to win the Gold Medal in the Moron Olympics.

  2. This is what I take from this story: a known flight risk (obviously) who tried to hijack a plane while injuring multiple people was released on bond.

  3. And ya wonder why peoples are saying that governments should bring back there Mental hospitals ! So Nutballs like this and other can be put away in isolation rooms and be given the proper drugs to curb their behaviour

  4. There goes the intrusive government again. Violating the rights of a constitutionally sovereign personhood. Certainly, they took away his gun in violation of his Second Amendment rights.
    And, no doubt, he will be tried in a military tribunal disguised as a civilian court — the clue in the flag with a fringe around it. Another reason to cut the TSA and airport security budgets. (Please note the sarcasm.)

  5. “ The aircraft, of course, wouldn’t make it 60% of the way from Seattle to Tallinn without refueling”
    Well, obviously, he knew this, that is why he had to change hijacked planes in Seattle

  6. What’s up with all the crazies on Alaska airlines? It seems to be unique to them, at least in recent history (employee stole and crashed airplane and high pilot off-duty tried to crash another plane)…

  7. who tried to hijack a plane while injuring multiple people was released on bond.” Bonds are intended only to make sure somebody shows up in Court for later proceedings. If somebody is a serious ‘flight-risk’ they don’t get a bond. Otherwise, one MUST be set, it’s a Constitutional Right. Bond companies usually charge at least 10%. Do you think somebody with that kind of money is gonna pay $50,000 to get this guy out of jail so he can continue on to Estonia?

  8. It didn’t say he was released. Just that the bond amount was set to $500,000. I think he’s getting a long spell of tax payer paid room and board.
    Nut case totally.

    Balanced out a million times over by real moral and thinking people from Montana like Liz Cheney.

  9. He was really just pissed off about how crappy a program mileage plan has become
    and was seeking revenge
    Or tasted the Alaska on board dining
    Seriously airport security is more focused on bottled water as a threat than stopping weapons coming through
    TSA cant tell the difference between a belt or a hip replacement
    But they are quick to grab your junk and grope as soon as their false readings occur
    What a mess of government spending thats gone on since 9-11

  10. Hey, Gary, if you’re going to create a post for your October 30 blog by simply rewriting news stories from two other sources (KGVO, published Oct 28, and WKRC on Oct 29, the latter being professional enough to credit KGVO’s original story), then at least clearly cite your sources in your story, and be sure you cut and paste all the pertinent information for your readers to enjoy. Your version of the story five times only identified the guy who breached security as “Seymour.” Yup, must be as famous as Beyonce or Adele to just be identified by one name, dontcha think?

    Here’s your missing information: His full name is Justin Seymour. Might want to add that to your first reference, just like KGVO and WKRC did in their stories.

  11. I’m surprised there’s no assault charges, as he injured the employee. (Perhaps they’ll tack these on later?)

  12. Apparently strong modern women are too weak to take down a mentally ill male? Go back to being trolley dollies and let muscle men secure the airport? Brought to you by the TSA….

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