France: Mulhouse airport traffic controller killed

[rab-k]

BBC News story here.. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13212343)

[aluminium persuader]

That's not at all good! Thoughts are with the family. :sad:

[captplaystation]

One would hope that there is enough sophistication in the security control such that it could identify who had swiped themselves in & out in the preceding hours, thereby perhaps identifying the perpetrator.
Of course, the person could have entered with a stolen badge.

[Amexgull]

And how many times have you found a fire door wedged open or such like? Lets hope it is more straightforward than that, poor fella...

[ron83]

Of course, the person could have entered with a stolen badge

Even so,what was the motive to do it?:sad:

RIP and condolences to family.:(

[captplaystation]

Don't think that was quite what I was discussing :hmm: I was merely suggesting that hopefully the security arrangements may have been sophisticated enough ( & ,if as suggested by another poster, just as critically, followed) they may be of some help in identifying the guilty party.

[hangten]

what was the motive to do it?

Indeed, herein lies the real issue. There's likely quite a story behind this. It almost sounds like a murder mystery.

My thoughts and condolences.

[BrATCO]

Sad day for French ATC.
My thoughts to his family.
Some of my colleagues were his classmates.:(

And how many times have you found a fire door wedged open or such like?

Doors can be left open inside a tower. The ouside door to enter the tower is closed and secured.

I don't know about Basel tower, but entry points in CDG, ORY, Paris, Reims and Brest ACCs are secured by Gendarmerie (Military Police) or Air Force. We are checked by humans who compare the picture on the badge and the face of the bearer. They usually know us and are very careful with newcomers.

Once inside the center, doors are automated, the badge becomes the only key. We can see posters everywhere reminding us to check everyone's got a badge.
When a badge is lost or stolen, it is immediately deactivated.
Critical doors (access to control or technical rooms, even some non safety related corridors) will remain closed.

[Daermon ATC]

This is just speculation, I have no indication whatsoever about this incident other that which has been already reported. :oh:

Assuming that the victim was indeed the intended target (that is, not simply tbeing at the wrong place at the wrong time), there are surely many other places where it would be easier to commit this murder. (Remember Peter Nielsen?)

As already said, this has happened inside a restricted area. I would speculate that the murderer does also have a valid ID for that area as well as access to the victim's schedule.

Sorry if I'm making an distasteful post, no disrespect meant, just pointing a possibility not previously mentioned.

In any case my condolences for those left behind. :sad:

[aldegar]

Rest in peace.

My condolences to family, friends and colleagues.

[valvanuz]

French Police is looking at an "inside" i.e. professional lead.

[ATC Watcher]

Very shocking news. Condolences to the familly.

Daermon ATC :
I would speculate that the murderer does also have a valid ID for that area as well as access to the victim's schedule.


Pure speculation , but indeed this is what the police is looking after apparently.Some of his colleagues are being interrogated/suspected and that is not good for serenity at the workplace.

[captplaystation]

Sorry to shatter your "serenity", but that is what I suggested quite a few hours ago in my first post. Shocking ? Yes! Distasteful? Yes! but, as I emphasised in my first post, if indeed he was murdered "airside" (for want of a better word) the Police would have to be total plonkers to fail to solve this one.

[baselb]

Police are looking for a 34 year old ATC trainee. He had apparently been in an argument with the victim earlier, due to personal differences.

The man is currently on sick leave and apparently has mental problems. A dozen police officers stormed his house on Wednesday evening only to find that he wasn't there.

http://www.20min.ch/news/kreuz_und_quer/story/30061261 (http://www.20min.ch/news/kreuz_und_quer/story/30061261) (German)

[ATC Watcher]

BaselB : yes, thanks for the link, this is also what I heard .
Capt PS : Sorry to shatter your "serenity",
Traffic conitnues to fly in LFSB today, and to do this safely you need serenity among other things. France as far as know still does not have CISM in place everywhere. I doubt LFSB has it , but I stand to becorrected.

[Nock]

@ ATC Watcher: things have improved now and we do have CISM in France now, it has been implemented for about 2 -3 years I think.
And I completely agree with you, what is really needed is serenity.

Nock

[captplaystation]

Was there any more news on this, have they found the guy or has he "vanished", in which case they are maybe as likely to find a body as a suspect.

[Touny]

The guy has still not been captured, security has been increased in all airports he might show up to (he sent about 35 letters threatening various ATCs he had been in contact with)...
It must not be an easy time for them, let's hope this does not last too long...

[hangten]

And again - was this story ever resolved? I can't find anything online.

[budweser]

Last I heard perpetrator was still on the loose...

[ATC Watcher]

interesting newsreel last night on French 2 TV : 20.000 criminals , including murderers are one the lose in France. Many are even trialed but just failed to appear in court on the day of the verdict to be jailed.
Poor Justice ....