Hero Scottish worker returns to airport after attack
A hero baggage handler in Glasgow, who tackled an airport terrorist said today that he would not be changed by his new fame, as he returned to work for the first time.
John Smeaton, aged 31, shot to fame after he helped police tackle a man who drove a blazing Jeep into the Glasgow Airport terminal building.
His comments in interviews after the incident brought him worldwide fame and turned him into a cult hero.
At 2pm today he made a low-key return to work at the airport, four weeks after the terrorist attack.
After a meeting with managers he went back to work supervising the loading of bags.
He said he has got used to more attention from members of the public, with people taking his photo this afternoon.
But he insisted he is the same person at heart.
He said: “I’m the same person. People notice me now but I’m just the same John, I’m just bog standard run-of-the-mill John. I know certain things have changed but I’m not going to let it change me.”
Mr Smeaton, from Renfrewshire in Scotland, was off work for a month after the attack as he recovered from the traumatic experience.
On his last memorable shift on June 30 he helped police overpower a terror suspect.
But he insisted he had put the bad memories behind him.
He said: “I’ve got rid of the bad memories. I had them for a couple of weeks but they disappeared. You’ve just got to get on with your life and you cannot let it affect you. If you let it affect you then they win.”
