PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) – A SkyWest official said 40-year-old Brian Joseph Hedglin attempted to steal a jet, but didn’t get airborne and ended up taking his own life. This is a security wake up call for small airports in Utah.
Hedglin climbed a security fence to the St. George Municipal Airport and walked up to a sitting commercial jet.
Most anyone can start a jet at any small airport. There is no security code and no keys to the door or ignition.
Hedglin was a suspended commercial pilot for SkyWest Airlines and knew how to get a jet up in the air.
Small commercial airports are in St. George, Cedar City, Moab, Vernal, Provo and Wendover, Nevada.
Provo’s Airport Manager Steve Gleason did not want to share specific security measures in place at Provo’s Airport, but did say security fences, surveillance cameras and people are in place to stop a would be jet thief.
Passengers at the airport say they’re confident this is enough, despite the crime in St. George Tuesday morning.
The plane in Provo takes off for Denver each morning at 8:15 p.m. and returns at 7:50 p.m. each night.
