David Hanley
John Wigger · 2023
Abstract This chapter describes David Hanley, a thirty-year-old inventor who was considered a misfit genius as his ideas for new inventions often straddled the line between creative and goofy. Hanley worked in engineering and design for Emerson Electric and then started his company, Circa 2000, which served largely as a vehicle to market his inventions. The chapter cites a statement from Hanley’s neighbor describing him as smart but also impetuous in a way that seemed immature to some. The chapter details Hanley’s decision to take matters into his own hands when he learned about the hijacking of American Flight 119. In his wife’s Cadillac Eldorado, Hanley rushed to the St. Louis Airport, drove through the gate, and hurtled down the runway toward Flight 119.