non aviation people think aviation is straight forward, assume competency, experience and ability and underestimate risk.
Well it could have been worse, allegedly holding a basic PPL, no IR, no night rating, SEP over water into IMC at night with icing... flying ILS approaches (sans IR or even an IMC rating), according to (again alleged) social media postings.
Not prejudging here but I'd be pretty damned reluctant to make that trip if even half of the above were true,.