New video released today, shows exactly how a man suspected of killing his girlfriend, was able to break-in to the St. George Airport and nearly make off with a plane.
Surveillance videos from all over the tarmac captured images of Brian Hedglin as he tried to get away from police by stealing a plane.
"I mean that was a very unusual event, but it does point out that it is possible to do," said retired Delta Captain Wayne Merrill.
Merrill has watched the video, and says it points out some unfortunate security flaws.
"I would say that at the present time the TSA probably needs to figure out a better way of protecting the perimeter of the airport," he said.
Right now a barbed wire fence is an airport’s only real perimeter security. And as the video shows, Hedglin easily got over the razor wired fence by using thick gloves and a coat. He then scurried across the tarmac, pulled the wooden blocks from the landing gear, and moments later the plane began to move. Turns out, planes aren't very secure.
"I don't know that I’ve ever seen an airplane with a locked door nor is there an ignition key," Merrill said.
Since Hedglin had experience with a plane, he was able to get it in motion. But he did it too quickly and with very little control, hitting the gate with the left wing then clipping the terminal. Out of control, he bounced over speed bumps and into the parking lot before he killed himself inside the plane.
Merrill thinks airports should have more security patrols around the perimeter of airports, no word on if that will happen here in Utah.
