Airlines
Airlines Struggle To Respond to Alaska Air Tragedy
Calls for enhanced ramp security and mental health screening raise troubling issues

When Alaska Air Group ground handler Richard Russell commandeered a company Q400 turboprop, the incident raised flags throughout the industry. Calls for tighter ramp security and mental health screening are rising up in the press, while airline management struggles with the prospect of balancing access and operating efficiency with security against an episode that no one had anticipated.