The hijacking of Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 by a disgruntled employee led to changes in laws and policies regarding airline and airport employee credentials and security screenings.
The crash highlighted the potential dangers of disgruntled employees and emphasized the importance of maintaining robust security measures in the airline industry.
Deep dives
The Hijacking and Crash
On December 7th, 1987, Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 was hijacked by a recently fired employee named David Gustus Burke. After shooting his former supervisor and another passenger, Burke crashed the plane into a hillside. The impact caused the death of all 43 people on board, including several high-ranking executives. The crash site exhibited significant damage, making the investigation challenging. The recovered evidence, including a note and a firearm, pointed to Burke as the perpetrator. The incident led to changes in federal laws and corporate policies regarding airline and airport employee credentials and security screenings.
The Background of the Perpetrator
David Gustus Burke, the hijacker, was a disgruntled former employee of US Air who was fired for stealing cash from the airline. He had a history of substance abuse and violent tendencies. Burke's troubled past also included rumors of cocaine smuggling. Prior to the hijacking, Burke had exhibited erratic and criminal behavior, leading to suspicions that he may be involved in illicit activities. His motive for the hijacking remains unclear.
The Immediate Impact
The hijacking took place aboard a British Aerospace 146 Regional Airliner. After the initial shots were fired, the cockpit voice recorder picked up distress calls from the pilots, along with more gunshots. It is believed that Burke incapacitated or killed the pilots, leading to the rapid descent and crash of the plane. The impact was so severe that it resulted in a 30-foot deep crater, with debris scattered throughout the crash site. The investigation revealed evidence of Burke's presence and his firearm at the scene.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The tragic event had a lasting impact on the airline industry. Changes were implemented to ensure the immediate seizure of employee credentials after termination. Additionally, tighter security measures were enforced, subjecting airline and airport employees to the same screenings as passengers. The crash of Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 highlighted the potential dangers of disgruntled employees and the importance of maintaining robust security measures to prevent such incidents.
Gustavo Sorola and Chris Demarais uncover the details of Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 after a hijacker took over the aircraft with a revolver he smuggled past security and ended up murdering all 43 people on board. Find out how this nightmare unfolded on this episode of Black Box Down. This episode is sponsored by Lectric Bikes, go to http://lectricebikes.com to learn more about Lectric eBikes’ Ready, Set, Spring Sale. This episode is also brought to you by Rocket Money, go to http://rocketmoney.com/blackboxdown to cancel unwanted subscriptions with Rocket Money. Find us on social media and buy our merch here! https://linktr.ee/BlackBoxDownPod Go to blackboxdownpod.com to support us directly! Download the public audio version https://link.chtbl.com/blackboxdown. Already a FIRST Member and need your Private RSS feed for this show? Go here: http://bit.ly/FIRSTRSS.
