Release #07.065
November 27, 2007

ALPA Commends Pilot who Alerted FBI to 9/11 Terrorist Moussaoui
Association Recognizes Judgment and Perseverance with Presidential Citation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) presented Capt. Clarence “Clancy” Prevost with its 2007 Presidential Citation for his exemplary efforts to alert the FBI to Zacharias Moussaoui’s attempts to learn to fly an airliner. Moussaoui would later be identified as the 20th hijacker in the 9/11 plot.

“Capt. Prevost demonstrated outstanding judgment, vigilance, and determination in his evaluation of the suspicious flight school student and his tireless efforts to alert authorities,” says Capt. John Prater, president of ALPA. “His commitment to his profession and his country serves as a model for all citizens.”

Moussaoui was assigned as a flight student to Prevost, who had retired from Northwest Airlines and was working as a B-747-400 simulator instructor at the Pan Am International Flight Academy in Eagan, Minn. From the beginning, Prevost noticed that Moussaoui had little flying experience and was interested in learning only very specific skills.

“Capt. Prevost’s insightful behavioral and background assessment, followed by his proactive efforts to ensure a federal law enforcement investigation, thwarted the suicidal hijacking intentions of his student and may have saved the lives of hundreds of innocent people,” says Capt. Bob Hesselbein, chairman of ALPA’s National Security Committee.

Prevost made several attempts to convince the flight school management that Moussaoui be investigated. Finally, he succeeded and the Minnesota field office of the FBI was contacted. The suspicious flight student was arrested in the flight school parking lot before 9/11 and later tried for his part in preparing for the attacks.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union representing more than 60,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

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Contacts: Pete Janhunen, Linda Shotwell, Molly Martin, 703/481-4440 or media@alpa.org