Body of Alaska Airlines pilot found along Calif. freeway
BURBANK, Calif. -- The body of an Alaska Airlines pilot has been found on a Southern California freeway off-ramp.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office said 55-year-old Lee Morris of Richland, Wash., was found Tuesday night in Burbank. A cause of death hasn't been determined.
KNBC-TV reported the body appeared to have been dumped near the Scott Road off-ramp of Interstate 5 near Bob Hope Airport.
Burbank police officers responding to a man-down call just before 6 p.m. found the body.
Officials said it is being investigated as a suspicious death.
An airline spokesperson said Morris was on a three-day trip flying from Seattle to Burbank. He was set to fly back to Seattle on Tuesday morning.
Alaska Airlines officials contacted police after he failed to show up for the flight.
In a written statement, Alaska Airlines Vice President of Flight Operations Gary Beck said the company is deeply saddened by the loss of Captain Morris, who worked for the airline for 26 years.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lee's fiancée and other loved ones," Beck said. "He will be greatly missed by his fellow pilots and all employees at Alaska."
Its too bloody awful. Sad, Sad day for his family. I'll say a prayer.
LAPD and Burbank police are really good they should find out what happened rather quickly and get some answers..
Yeah Ask Rodney King how good they are.lol @Windowseat
I feel sorry for his family. To discover a loved one was found dead alongside a freeway must be devastating. 26 years is a lot of dedication to one company. I'm wondering if some people/group knew he was a pilot and attempted to compel him into some act in which he ultimately refused. Hard to say if this was just a random act of violence. Condolences to his family.
terrr plot gone wrong.
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My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Such a tragedy!Â
RIP dear Pilot !!
What difference does it make who the man worked for? This seems to be popular with the media; I've seen it a few other times with Microsoft employees. If the man worked for 7-11 or AMC theaters, I bet you anything that would not be in the story. Where people work does not have any significance or captivate the readers.
Besides that, this is sad news and I feel for the man's family.
@northwestsurfer He worked for a local company but was found dead while working for that company in another state. I think if they didn't mention who he worked for, some people would be left wondering why he was down there and if his death had something to do with the job. I'm sure there's also the thought that perhaps a lot of people locally knew him due to his career. And of course, it personalizes it for the audience, drawing them in. IMHO.
 @northwestsurfer It is the "if it bleeds, it leads" nature of the news business. For KOMO to report on a suspicious death in Burbank, CA, they have to connect it to the audience. Alaska Airlines is a prominent Northwest company, many KOMO readers/viewers have flown on an Alaska flight a time or two, and that makes it hit home.
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 @northwestsurfer They do the same thing with teachers, coaches and ministers.
@anon4444 Dude, my point is not and never was that he was a pilot. My point is whether he works for Alaska Airlines or any other employer. What difference does it make who he works for. If they want to put this in the article, fine. But why does it have to be in the headline, like that is relevant?
 @northwestsurfer  @anon4444 I think including the employer helps people make connections. I fly Alaska a lot and so it made a connection with me. And Alaska is based in Seattle (unlike, say 7-11). People respond to these connections even if they're not particularly "important".
 @northwestsurfer I agree. I doubt that if I died under suspicious circumstances that my employer would have been named.
 @northwestsurfer I see your point, it may or may not be relevant to the story, but there is no indication that it is (yet).Â
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 I do think it makes people more likely to click on the story. As you see from all the scenarios people come up with as to what happened, it captures their imaginations.Â
@northwestsurfer This is a stupid comment that you should have kept to yourself.
@Superman_1967 yeah? Is this all you have to say, nothing to debate or why you think my comment is stupid? You are the simple minded person that can only tell me my comment is stupid. At least I can articulate why I thought it was irrelevant to begin with. Lots of other people here came to debate me and say why they disagreed; you are the one that cant think of anything sophisticated to say other than my comment was stupid.
@leesa88210 So besides trolling comments, what exactly is your point? I said my condolences after my questioning the relevance of working for Alaska Airlines, and you had something critical to say. Its good for you to offer condolences, but mine hold no weight apparently.
You claim you know them, but you are turning this into a circus. Nice way of showing your respect. When you have something to offer, a debate or anything substantial, then feel free to comment back.
@northwestsurfer Nah, I'd rather not keep it to myself. and I have already sent my condolences to the family since I know them personally, thanks.
@leesa88210 Negative? Did you read my entire post? I said I feel for his family. I didnt say anything negative, and I definitely do not have to explain or justify my opinion to you. Why dont you keep your opinion to yourself? I dont see any post from you here, offering your condolences. All I see is you criticizing my comment, and you are calling me negative?
@northwestsurfer I agree with superman, you should have just kept it to yourself.. why be such a negative person? Why not just share your condolences, but instead you have to make sure to throw a little bit of drama into the feed.. so I will agree.. your comment was stupid!
@northwestsurfer  I disagree. If he was murdered and his body dumped there as the story suggests, the fact that he was a pilot could be EXTREMELY relevant to THIS story.
@scared_citizen You just proved my point in your statement. What relevance does being a pilot, or being a pilot for Alaska Airlines have with anything? Being a pilot is not the only way he could have ended up there.
@northwestsurfer  My thoughts are WHY he was killed and dumped there. His job as a Pilot could have actually been the cause (smuggling, etc). He may havbe rejected someone's "offer" (not to insinuate he was a criminal) or maybe he was trying to get out a situation. Either way, that is why his job MAY be relevant to THIS story (not every story).
 @northwestsurfer I understand what you're saying but I think the fact he was a pilot may be significant because likely he was only on a layover in that area. Maybe he hooked up with the wrong person somewhere along the line there.
@Willow What does it matter if he was a pilot or not? If he was driving on a road trip, on business flying on a plane, he could have still ended up in that area. I dont see what difference being a pilot makes.
 @northwestsurfer I understand what your saying but I find it interesting he was a pilot. They did find his wallet but my first thought was 911 and could somebody of taken his identification and pilots license to use for a terrorist attack. Maybe far fetched. Still very sad for this mans family.
@northwestsurfer Bikini baristas and strippers also somehow made the media occupation reporting list. But thats an argument for another day, my heart goes out to his friends and family