The grounding was for physical reasons only, but it affected him mentally. He did not know what else to do with himself and couldn't seem to pull himself out of the spiral. He began acting very strangely and doing things that ensured that he would never be able to fly again (got arrested for drunk driving, etc.), while at the same time completely freaking out that he would never be able to fly again. He ended up committing suicide. It was a very sad situation.
He did not take 149 people with him, however.
How old was your father’s friend when that happened.
They have pointed out that this guy was a ripe age for the onset of schizophrenia and the like.
I will not judge a person for killing themselves due to depression or mental illness. I have some sympathy for them.
I will never have any sympathy for a loser who decided to take 150 other people with him when he decided to kill himself.