His Suspicions Led To The Arrest Of 9/11 Terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui

ANN has received word from ALPA that Capt. Clarence "Clancy" Prevost, pilot with Northwest Airlines for 25 years before retiring in 1993, has passed away. Prevost is probably best known for his actions in 2001 as a simulator instructor working for a flight school near Minneapolis.

Prevost had suspicions about a student who was training for the B-747 even though he lacked basic flight knowledge. Despite the discouragement from his employers, the former Northwest captain repeatedly contacted the FBI to share these concerns. On August 16, 2001, the student, Zacarias Moussaoui, was arrested and later determined to be the twentieth member of the group plotting the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In 2007, ALPA presented Prevost with a Presidential Citation for his exemplary efforts. "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," said Capt. Bob Hesselbein, ALPA's National Security Committee chairman at the time.

Moussaoui

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a Navy pilot, Prevost passed away at his home in Coral Gables at age 72. His wife, Sheilah, recently wrote to advise us of her husband's passing and to thank ALPA for its support and encouragement.

FMI: www.alpa.org