Douglas M. Arthur, 44, was among the 43 people killed when Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 crashed near Cayucos, California, on December 7, 1987. The crash followed an onboard attack by David Burke, a former USAir employee who brought a concealed firearm onto the flight, shot his former supervisor Ray Thomson and members of the flight crew, and then caused the plane to crash. Arthur, an off-duty PSA pilot, is reported to have attempted to intervene during the hijacking, though his efforts could not prevent the loss of the aircraft and all aboard.

Investigators concluded Burke smuggled the weapon aboard the flight, taking advantage of the era’s minimal passenger screening; Burke died in the crash and no other suspects were identified. The aftermath produced litigation and scrutiny of the airline’s security practices and is cited as a catalyst for stricter screening rules.