'87 PSA Flt 1771

[JB74]

Does anyone remember the circumstances surrounding this?

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X32679&key=1

 

[Boeingman]

I remember that this signaled the end of the days when we walked past security showing our airline ID. I also remember the F/O was a striking CAL pilot. Other than that, the report sums it up pretty well.

Although here is some other non technical info about the moron that did this.

http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-pa1771.shtml

 

[Resume Writer]

Yes, I do remember this. In fact, I was just talking to someone last night about this incident and how we cannot bypass security anymore because of this tragedy. From what I remember, he was a disgruntled ramper who got into the cockpit and killed the pilots after he killed his supervisor.

 

[FN FAL]

Does anyone remember the circumstances surrounding this?

Yes, I have used this PSA flight and the FedEx attempted hijacking as material for college assignments.

I think it is funny that after PSA Flight 1771 and the FedEx thing, that Americans are surprised to find that weakness exploited in the tragedy of 9/11.

You can say blah, blah, blah, about the FedEx thing being committed by a co-worker, who as a jump-seater would have had access to the cockpit anyway...but you cannot look at this incident and say..."we NEVER would have believed that someone would EVER use and airliner as a weapon and kill themselves as well!!!"

Flight 1771 proved that cockpit doors should have been stronger and more secure. The FedEx attempted hijacking proved that airliners were vulnerable for use as weapons of mass destruction and weapons of mass effect.

 

[Tripower455]

Yes, I do remember this. In fact, I was just talking to someone last night about this incident and how we cannot bypass security anymore because of this tragedy. From what I remember, he was a disgruntled ramper who got into the cockpit and killed the pilots after he killed his supervisor.

Pretty much it in the nutshell...........

I find it more than a little ironic that a direct result of the actions of a ramper, pilots and flight attendants have to endure passenger screening, whilst rampers, STILL, go in the back door unchecked...........

17 years later, I still don't see the logic in screening (for weapons) the only employees on the airport that don't need weapons to "take over" the aircraft, while those that would need them, bypass screening.

Pure, unadulterated EYEWASH..........

 

[LearLove]

How do they know this.....?

Below is part of the article from the link in boeingman's post above:

"As the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 29,000 feet, Burke calmly vacated his chair and made his way to the lavatory, dropping the air-sickness bag in his supervisor's lap as he passed. Moments later, he emerged with the handgun, and immediately shot Thompson."

I can see how they know what the FA said and the comments and actions after the cockpit door was open but how do they know about his actions that wouldn't show up on the cvr?

How do they know if he "scribbled" the note? Was it foound at the site?

How do they know he dropped the note in his bosses lap if everyone is dead?

How do they know he went into the lav? Can it be herd on the cvr? Is the lav on a 146 in the front?

Not that this is important, just some observations about the article or lack of knowledge on my part.

 

[Tripower455]

LearLove,

I've wondered the same thing about those "facts"......... The airplane was pretty much aluminum confetti when it hit the ground, iirc.


The bottom line, from my point of view, is that a security breach led to a mass murder on an airplane, and instead of fixing the hole in "security" as a result, they made it LOOK like they did something. And we did nothing to stop it.

It could happen again, today.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

more details

I worked for PSA in the 1980's. The ramper was a USAir employee that was out to get his boss. I believe he had either been fired or was about to be fired.

I think he shot his supervisor on board, killed the pilots and put the plane in to a nose dive at max power. He shot himself before impact and it is believed the plane surpassed the speed of sound before impact and had started to break up on the way down.