FedEx Suicide Attack
FedEx Suicide Attack
I ran across the video on youtube and had heard the stories since I work for FedEx. A flight engineer attacked the crew of FedEx Flight 705 heading from Memphis to San Jose. He rode jump seat with the crew, a crew with two ex-navy pilots and a flight engineer. He attacked the three of them with hammers and spear guns. With some evasive flying from the ex-navy pilot and the other two struggling with the attacker, they end up subduing him and land the plane. The former FedEx flight engineer was found guilty and is sentenced to twenty years to life in prison. Here is a small clip from the documentary National Geographic did on it.
Video clip from Nation Geographic: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VpjXOzT0Ou0
Video clip from Nation Geographic: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VpjXOzT0Ou0
The would-be hijacker, a FedEx pilot who was to be terminated from the airline, was sentenced to life in prison in wake of the incident. Here are the tapes...
Download (320k) the aircraft's Air Traffic Control tape (part 1) in MP3 format.
Download (173k) the aircraft's Air Traffic Control tape (part 2) in MP3 format.
Download (320k) the aircraft's Air Traffic Control tape (part 1) in MP3 format.
Download (173k) the aircraft's Air Traffic Control tape (part 2) in MP3 format.
Not true... FedEx crew members are still allowed, and AFAIK if you're CASS approved too (most airlines). 9-11, changed things much more than this incident, mainly due to the lack of a common system for background checks. Of course, no system at all could prevent someone who's as mentally twisted as this FedEx employee was, trying to mask his attack as an aircraft accident (he pulled the CVR circuit breaker twice before flight), so that his family would benefit from the 2.5 millon dollar life insurance policy he had... Just sick!Sabertooth wrote:Yes he was, unfourtanetly now due to that incident FedEx employess can no longer ride "Jump Seat" in the planes now.
I can almost guarantee you that at least FedEx pilots can ride jump on their own birds! There would be hell to pay for the company if several hundred commuters couldn't get to work. I'm curious now, I might ask our jumpseat committee and see what they say as far as CASS and/or reciprocal agreements.
@Whack or Bon, you guys know about JS on FedEx and UPS?
@Whack or Bon, you guys know about JS on FedEx and UPS?
I am curious as well LD. I have just seen some of the people higher in the pecking order walking around with luggage for the flight. Probably the pilots like you said just in their buisness casual clothes. But I cant say I have seen or heard of just any employee able to do it anymore. I think now they are just giving us our $88 round trip standby, anywhere fairs for the airlines.
If I'm not mistaken, the attacker was a FE for FedEX right? That's why he was allowed access to the cockpit. I don't know about their policies with respect to other employees, but any airline pilot working for a 121 carrier (maybe 135 also) can jumpseat if their company is CASS approved.
I met with the FedEX guys a couple of months ago and they were very helpful in making sure AA pilots could ride to work on FedEX if necessary.
W.
I met with the FedEX guys a couple of months ago and they were very helpful in making sure AA pilots could ride to work on FedEX if necessary.
W.
Yes, he was a flight engineer for FedEx. Actually he was suppose to be the FE for the FedEx 705 flight to San Jose. His original plan was to take on just the two pilots which would have included one woman, but the day before they went over their flight time by a few minutes so they could not do the flight. So the crew was replaced and he was riding jumpseat.
If you're CASS approved you can jump, regardless of the airline but pending PIC approval. What this screwed up is non pilot employees jumping. For example, before this I (as a weight and balance Lead) could jumpseat on my airline. No longer. This also kinda messed up (I think) pilots from OTHER airlines jumping. Jumpseat privilages are still extended, but you may be required to have a seat in the cabin, thus relegating it to simply a free nonrev flight.
I looked into this and offline jumpseaters are allowed, cabin as well as in the flightdeck! I'm not going to post the FedEx ALPA info here, but there are JS procedures in place and it would allow me for instance to occupy the JS (or FE seat if unused) in the cockpit. So, there you have it! FedEx pilots and other airline pilots alike can ride jump on FedEx.
I bet it would be quite a surreal world in the early wee hours, riding in the middle of night and having the 5 o'clock push take place at 2 in the morning while connecting in Memphis. Might have to try it sometime!
I bet it would be quite a surreal world in the early wee hours, riding in the middle of night and having the 5 o'clock push take place at 2 in the morning while connecting in Memphis. Might have to try it sometime!