Airline Pilot Forums

Police: Airline employee wanted for murder | 9news.com (http://www.9news.com/news/article/278169/339/Police-Airline-employee-wanted-for-murder)
Article mentions having pilot license but doesnt say if he is a skywest pilot. I hope not.

Lets hope this is a ramper or something!

Gee yeah, lets hope! :rolleyes:

looks like he might have tried to steal a skywest bird...could get interesting.

SkyWest Airlines crews at their home base of St. George, Utah, arrived at work this morning to find one of their Delta Connection-liveried Bombardier CRJ-700 CRJ-200 jets nosed into a ditch. The airport’s lone terminal also suffered some damage along with several private cars in the parking lot.


Details remain very sketchy. What we do know is the incident occurred around 3 am local time, according to a KSL report. Initially there were no reports of injuries, but later the possibility of one seriously injured person was raised.

The airport was closed completely until late Tuesday morning as the FBI and local police investigated. Roads surrounding the airport were also closed. Several flights were cancelled, some were being operated out Cedar City Municipal Airport about 70 miles north of St. George, while some were being replaced by bus service.

No one is saying who or what was responsible for the damage, nor the nature of the damage. The plane in the ditch was first revealed through a reader-submitted cellphone photo posted on KSL.com.

More recent pictures showed the plane being lifted by crane from an area that appeared to be a public parking area, and the plane’s left wing had obviously contacted some parked cars. Presumably the damage to the terminal could have also been caused by the plane hitting it.

So what happened? In the photos we’ve seen so far, the plane did not appear to have a tug or a towbar attached to it, which could indicate that the plane’s engines were actually powered up and it was moving on its own.

It is possible that a group of people could have pushed it by hand, but to push a larger CRJ any considerable distance would have required a pretty large group.

The plane was still in one piece, but there was no way of telling how severe the damage without getting a closer view of the fuselage. All of the plane’s Delta branding, including the tail and the fuselage titles, are now covered in white plastic.

Based on the fact that the FBI and TSA were investigating, it seems that this was not an accident caused by a SkyWest employee in the course of his job.

Got any details? Email us at news@nycaviation.com.

Developing…

UPDATE 1:30 PM ET: ABC 4 KTVX reporter Marcos Ortiz has tweeted an unconfirmed report from the scene that a murder suspect or a fugitive may have been involved in the incident. He also says that one person may have been killed, but is awaiting a statement from the St. George assistant city manager.

UPDATE 2:15 PM ET: Brian Joseph Hedglin, a 40-year-old SkyWest pilot who was wanted for murdering his girlfriend in Colorado Springs, committed suicide in the plane after attempting to steal it.

ABC 4 reports that Hedglin rode his motorcycle to the airport and hopped a fence at around 12:30 am.

He then started up the aircraft and began taxiing. According to one witness account, the plane hit a jetway, sheared its right wing into the terminal, plowed through the perimeter fence and collapsed its nose gear before taking out six cars and coming to rest in a ditch adjacent to a car parking lot.

Hedglin was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the aircraft.

Holy crap, that's intense.

WOW!!!!!!!!!

I thought it would happen at Comair first.

:eek:





That's just about all I can say...

Not sure why it would be "better" if it was a ramper.:confused:

HOWEVER, it's a pilot who committed suicide after being wanted for questioning for killing his girlfriend.

Unfriggin' believable......With all this pilot craziness going on lately, I'm thinking it's time for some psych evaluations......

This could have been really really bad. I hope this doesn't encourage other people who want to take their own lives

Better from a pilot group standpoint. Given the context of our profession being held to a higher standard and the recent unfortunate happenings, I would say its better if this wasnt a line pilot.

UPDATE: Man tried to steal SkyWest plane; committed suicide - ABC4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News (http://www.abc4.com/content/news/state/story/UPDATE-Man-tried-to-steal-SkyWest-plane-committed/pVXSNLRCo0i-6lGyj_rEjQ.cspx?rss=1451)

Wow... that's just... Yikes.

The greater question is ....why. What is the cause of these episodes? Stress? None the less, another black eye in the face of aviation.

How does a pilot "try" to steal a plane? Could he have intentionally ran it into a ditch?

Don't worry, this will somehow be blamed on the fact that this was a regional airline.

How does a pilot "try" to steal a plane? Could he have intentionally ran it into a ditch?

He must not have been a very good pilot.

Should be an interesting CVR.

Sadly, not the first time this has happened.

Death Ends 1,600-Mile Flight Of Learjet Stolen by Mechanic - NYTimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/26/us/death-ends-1600-mile-flight-of-learjet-stolen-by-mechanic.html)

UPDATE: Man tried to steal SkyWest plane; committed suicide - ABC4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News (http://www.abc4.com/content/news/state/story/UPDATE-Man-tried-to-steal-SkyWest-plane-committed/pVXSNLRCo0i-6lGyj_rEjQ.cspx?rss=1451)

I like how the article says "Records show that Hedglin was a licensed pilot, certified as a transport pilot and also certified to land multi-engine aircraft."


Obviously he wasn't certified for takeoff...

Since he was a SkyWest pilot, I am lost to as why he was unable to get the plane out to the runway (VERY HAPPY HE DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE AIR), I am guessing he was either intoxicated on something or possibly there was some sort of intervening from authorities that is not being mentioned. It is obvious what his intent was being that he was in SGU, very scary thought.

To me, with his actions he took, it is evident he killed that woman. I am just very happy to see that nobody else was hurt in this matter. Crazy world we live in today. :(

Not sure why it would be "better" if it was a ramper.:confused:

HOWEVER, it's a pilot who committed suicide after being wanted for questioning for killing his girlfriend.

Unfriggin' believable......With all this pilot craziness going on lately, I'm thinking it's time for some psych evaluations......

Now, what fall out in terms of security will the rest of us have to pay. Believe me, there will be a price to pay. One or two make a mistake, the whole suffers behind it.....Colgan.

I thought it would happen at Comair first.

HAH! Well played sir.

If I was going to commit suicide, crashing a 200 after a joyride wouldn't be a bad way to go (assuming none of the obvious consequences exist in this hypothetical fantasy).

I am lost to as why he was unable to get the plane out to the runway (VERY HAPPY HE DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE AIR)

I've never been to St George UT and don't know how they park aircraft there, but it's safe to say that most planes are parked such that they require a push back tug/tow to get them started in the right direction. Since this guy apparently didn't have an accomplice, he wouldn't have had a push back crew. I've seen reports from several outlets that say an eyewitness first heard him attempting to back up using reverse thrust. He then tried to move forward clipping the Terminal and heading out into a car parking lot.

This article implies he backed it up using reverse....

Man who stole plane, committed suicide wanted in connection with murder | ksl.com (http://www.ksl.com/?sid=21291573&nid=148&title=man-who-stole-plane-committed-suicide-wanted-in-connection-with-murder&s_cid=featured-1)

I've never been to St George UT and don't know how they park aircraft there, but it's safe to say that most planes are parked such that they require a push back tug/tow to get them started in the right direction. Since this guy apparently didn't have an accomplice, he wouldn't have had a push back crew. I've seen reports from several outlets that say an eyewitness first heard him attempting to back up using reverse thrust. He then tried to move forward clipping the Terminal and heading out into a car parking lot.

There is one jet bridge that the plane parks at, but I figured the aircraft would have enough power to back itself up using reverse thrust (Just like AA's MD-80's that I have witnessed doing) or even him hooking up a tug that is parked outside and pushing it back himself. But either way, I'm glad this nutcase crashed the plane into the parking lot with nobody around verses getting airborne and creating real damage.

We will pay a price for this as a pilot group, in which way we will just have to wait and see. :confused:

Any SkyWest pilots thinking if this incident moves them up one in senority?:o

Any SkyWest pilots thinking if this incident moves them up one in senority?:o


Dude....too soon!

Any SkyWest pilots thinking if this incident moves them up one in senority?:o

Even though it is true....the thought would be covetous and selfish.

How does a pilot "try" to steal a plane? Could he have intentionally ran it into a ditch?

Wasted perhaps? Stands to reason given the circumstances... too bad

Since he was a SkyWest pilot, I am lost to as why he was unable to get the plane out to the runway

Obviously he was merely a First Officer. Had he been a Captain, not only would he have made it to the runway and escaped to Mexico, he wouldn't have been implicated in the murder of his girlfriend in the first place! :D

Never ceases to amaze me how many people on here make childish, immature and selfish comments. And we wonder why this profession is in the toilet. Come on people, grow up!

One human being calling another human being Selfish, HYPOCRISY at it's best!

Never ceases to amaze me how many people on here make childish, immature and selfish comments. And we wonder why this profession is in the toilet. Come on people, grow up!

This guy was a murdering douchebag SOB. What do you want us to say?

Never ceases to amaze me how many people on here make childish, immature and selfish comments. And we wonder why this profession is in the toilet. Come on people, grow up!

There are many reasons why this profession is in the toilet. Those three ain't one of them!

This guy was a murdering douchebag SOB. What do you want us to say?

How about condolences to the victims family instead of immature smart ass comments

How about condolences to the victims family instead of immature smart ass comments
You mean the girl he murdered? Sure, my heart goes out to them. But why can't we do both?

BTW, this is one way to rid of the 50 seaters! :D

Gotta wonder what he would have done had he been able to get it off the ground.

Sad for the woman's family.

Not sure why it would be "better" if it was a ramper.:confused:

HOWEVER, it's a pilot who committed suicide after being wanted for questioning for killing his girlfriend.

Unfriggin' believable......With all this pilot craziness going on lately, I'm thinking it's time for some psych evaluations......

So, you, Mr. Pilot, consider Ramp Agents to be lesser humans than pilots, eh!

What a moronic reply.

Pilots are not better than rampers, flight attendants, gate agents, truck drivers, etc, beleive me!

ANYONE CAN BECOME A [AIRLINE] PILOT. ANYONE!

This 'pilot' proved that to you!

And he was a member of our military too...to make you feel better.

Now, what fall out in terms of security will the rest of us have to pay. Believe me, there will be a price to pay. One or two make a mistake, the whole suffers behind it.....Colgan.


Bingo. This could be the end of jumpseating as we know it. I really hope that he did not use CASS to access the secure area.

So, you, Mr. Pilot, consider Ramp Agents to be lesser humans than pilots, eh!

What a moronic reply.

Pilots are not better than rampers, flight attendants, gate agents, truck drivers, etc, beleive me!

ANYONE CAN BECOME A [AIRLINE] PILOT. ANYONE!

This 'pilot' proved that to you!

And he was a member of our military too...to make you feel better.

Ummm, I THINK you meant to quote the post I responded to.....:confused:

Bingo. This could be the end of jumpseating as we know it. I really hope that he did not use CASS to access the secure area.

Ummm... didn't he scale a barbed-wire fence?

Not sure why it would be "better" if it was a ramper.:confused:

HOWEVER, it's a pilot who committed suicide after being wanted for questioning for killing his girlfriend.

Unfriggin' believable......With all this pilot craziness going on lately, I'm thinking it's time for some psych evaluations......
They are already done as part of the pre employment process at the major airlines ....I have a better idea how about psych evaluations for flight attendants! We could see a considerable culling in the ranks to make room for new (re: attractive ) ones!

Ummm... didn't he scale a barbed-wire fence?

Yes. I just saw that on the news. At least 121 security didn't fail catastrophically.

Obviously he was merely a First Officer. Had he been a Captain, not only would he have made it to the runway and escaped to Mexico, he wouldn't have been implicated in the murder of his girlfriend in the first place! :D

Wow! Your lack of maturity is truly astounding!

You don't seem to comprehend the gravity of the situation and of the events that transpired in St. George and Colorado Springs, do you?

One person has been brutally murdered and you are implying that ‘…a captain [because of her/his experience/skill/knowledge/education] would’ve been better equipped to figure out an escape route/plan’.

Had this person been able to get airborne, no one knows where he would crashed the plane to commit a suicide and how many more he could’ve killed.

Your sarcastic reply and failed effort to sound humorous reeks of inhumanity!

They are already done as part of the pre employment process at the major airlines ....I have a better idea how about psych evaluations for flight attendants! We could see a considerable culling in the ranks to make room for new (re: attractive ) ones!

I had to read your post a few times since your command of English grammar leaves something to be desired. I THINK you meant to say " i.e." attractive ones NOT "re."
In any case, I say yeah more attractive FAs all around----but that has to cut the other way too so we have something to ogle. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little tired and bored having to be exposed to fat, dumpy, bald, poorly dressed "professional" pilots or the few attractive ones who are either narcissists or airheads. :)

Wow, for a thread that has murder in it's very existense, the level of immauturity and lack of sympathy speaks volumes for the charachter of respondents. Keep it up, no one is looking, I swear.

I had to read your post a few times since your command of English grammar leaves something to be desired. I THINK you meant to say " i.e." attractive ones NOT "re."
In any case, I say yeah more attractive FAs all around----but that has to cut the other way too so we have something to ogle. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little tired and bored having to be exposed to fat, dumpy, bald, poorly dressed "professional" pilots or the few attractive ones who are either narcissists or airheads. :)


OUCH...Well played maddam or sir. Well played. Carry on.

And now on a serious note. This is a terrible and sad set of events.

Wow, for a thread that has murder in it's very existense, the level of immauturity and lack of sympathy speaks volumes for the charachter of respondents. Keep it up, no one is looking, I swear.


Thank you!! This is exactly what I was trying to say, and all I got was a few idiots bashing me! Glad I'm not the only one who sees this crap.

I agree, what happened in Utah is serious and this thread has taken an unbelievably juvenille turn.

Clearly this was a very sad and unfortunate string of events. And clearly this guy snapped or was whacked out, or something, just thank goodness he did not get into the air, for whatever reason.

I believe he was a capt, but to me that is irrelevant - his actions show that he was an idiot and a murderer. That does not change that it is very sad and disturbing.

Only person I feel for is the poor woman who was murdered by this coward. It's obvious he was stalking her for months and she should have dealt with him more harshly than she did. IF she had an order of protection of against him, that was not enough. Those papers are only good to wipe your butt with. A maniac will be hell-bent on an ending like this. He should rot in hell.

If I was going to commit suicide, crashing a 200 after a joyride wouldn't be a bad way to go (assuming none of the obvious consequences exist in this hypothetical fantasy).

Don't think I would have just said that here. You are not as anonymous as you may think.

What a sad and disturbing story. Thank God he never left the ground.

We just dodged September 11th v2.0 ladies and gentlemen...

Wow, for a thread that has murder in it's very existense, the level of immauturity and lack of sympathy speaks volumes for the charachter of respondents. Keep it up, no one is looking, I swear.

That ^^^^^

While it is easy to make fun of this situation (it is something quite odd!) let's not forget that suicide is not a victimless crime. To all of those who knew this man and flew with him/were friends with him, my condolences.

Unfortunate turn of events. Condolences to those affected.

I wonder what caused him to make such life-altering decisions. The final one is clear but why did he murder his girlfriend?

While it is easy to make fun of this situation (it is something quite odd!) let's not forget that suicide is not a victimless crime. To all of those who knew this man and flew with him/were friends with him, my condolences.

Well said.

Unfortunate turn of events. Condolences to those affected.

I wonder what caused him to make such life-altering decisions. The final one is clear but why did he murder his girlfriend?

She dumped him in March.....

She dumped him in March.....

Ah... I see. Hmm...

Wow! Your lack of maturity is truly astounding!

Wind yer neck in sunshine. That mature enough for you?

You don't seem to comprehend the gravity of the situation and of the events that transpired in St. George and Colorado Springs, do you?

I comprehend it very well, thank you. I find it all rather peculiar.

One person has been brutally murdered and you are implying that ‘…a captain [because of her/his experience/skill/knowledge/education] would’ve been better equipped to figure out an escape route/plan’.

You may infer that if you wish. Unless the Constitution has been changed, I believe I am entitled to my opinion - and to express it!

Had this person been able to get airborne, no one knows where he would crashed the plane to commit a suicide and how many more he could’ve killed.

Oh, right, yes. Let's make a drama out of a crisis.

Your sarcastic reply and failed effort to sound humorous reeks of inhumanity!

As I said above, wind yer neck in sunshine.

"As I said above, wind yer neck in sunshine."

I've never heard that expression. ???


Found it, thanks!
wind your neck in
Given as advice to someone you you'd like to sit down and shut up, whilst also pointing out that they are wrong.
Dave, we've missed our exit thanks to your **** map reading, adding 20 miles to our journey, so wind your ****ing neck in.

nice...now can we please have some respect for the families and co-workers involved.

I think this thread needs to be closed and we start a new one showing respect for what has happened to families, co-workers and a company.

Urban dictionary - "wind yur neck in...": A beautiful Northern Irish expression used when a person is either talkin crap or boasting.

Still does not seem appropriate for this totally tragic event.

I think this thread needs to be closed and we start a new one showing respect for what has happened to families, co-workers and a company.

+1 and then some

Wind yer neck in sunshine. That mature enough for you?



I comprehend it very well, thank you. I find it all rather peculiar.



You may infer that if you wish. Unless the Constitution has been changed, I believe I am entitled to my opinion - and to express it!



Oh, right, yes. Let's make a drama out of a crisis.



As I said above, wind yer neck in sunshine.

It's no use arguing with Max Glide regarding sarcasm, he does not comprehend it. I once wrote a post to a spelling nazi who said I spelled something wrong, so in my next reply I spelled every word in the paragraph wrong and corrected one of the nazi's mistakes and Max comes on here and says I have no room to talk about spelling and grammar! In subsequent PM's he still did not see the light and seriously thot eye spelt every singal werd wrongly cus eye is ineducated

If I was going to commit suicide, crashing a 200 after a joyride wouldn't be a bad way to go (assuming none of the obvious consequences exist in this hypothetical fantasy).

Don't think I would have just said that here. You are not as anonymous as you may think.

Plenty anonymous for a silly thought. Everyone's fantasized about flying around with no rules. Like a bird.

There are a lot of sensitive sallys out there today. It's clear everyone feels for the girl. If a little sarcasm at the expense of a deranged murderous idiot gets you butt-hurt, I can't imagine how the rest of the internet makes you feel.

We just dodged September 11th v2.0 ladies and gentlemen...

Not even remotely close.


But we are all going to be kicked in the nuts in some way or fashion by the worthless smurf police as a knee jerk reaction to this. God only knows what draconian, worthless rule they are going to come up with now.

Yeesh, this board has devolved into 4chan...

I met the guy once during recurrent. He was a COS-based CA. Seemed like a nice enough guy, clearly something in him snapped. Probably over the stress from killing his ex-girlfriend.

Probably over the stress from killing his ex-girlfriend.

Must've forgotten the IMSAFE checklist before getting behind the controls of that CRJ...

He was a COS-based CA. Seemed like a nice enough guy, clearly something in him snapped.

You think he snapped before or after he killed his girlfriend?

Someone PLEASE close and lock this thread. It serves no purpose what so ever!!

I don't know what the hell happened to this place. It used to be a hell of a lot more professional. Ever since IB took over, it seems as if it's gone downhill. I guessing the acceptance requirements of new members has been dramatically lowered as well, just for the draw.

The crap I've read just on this thread alone make airliners.net seem more professional.

Seriously gentlemen, we're better than this.

Mod Note:

Hmmm, I'm not sure why some of you insist on being so disrespectful and juvenile. This has got to be one of the most ridiculous degeneration of a thread. And somehow your behavior gets worse when the thread is about someone dying or dead. Absolutely despicable.

Thread closed. I won't be handing out infractions, but I will remember those who posted idiotic commentary. Your next stupid post will cost you. And for those of you who think the rules here are silly, go start your own forums.