Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

So I am on the train down to Head Office as I write this on the train low and behold whilst browsing the internet I actually see something that leaves me speechless. It has been reported in the news that a Bolivian man who missed his Ryanair flight at Madrid, actually jumped over the gate and over the bridge and chased, yes chased the plane as it was pulling away from the gate to try and get it to stop.

Now for me, this is highly desperate tactics and what actually shocked me more is that there were reports that the pilot actually allowed the man to board as he had a boarding pass in his hand. Now I kind of applaud this man for his quick thinking and cunning to be able to get past all the staff at the airport and out after the plane but shouldn’t transport police have been called and stopped him as surely he was causing a massive health and safety risk?

I can never understand why people miss their flights! I know sometimes external circumstances beyond our control can stop us getting to the airport in time for check in, but once you’re through security and into departures surely this is near on impossible to actually miss. You have your boarding pass with your flight number and departure time on, there are always numerous screens telling you which gate your flight will be departing from, there are tanoys happening all the time informing you when your gate is open and when it is about to close and when you’re not there they shout your name specifically for all to hear. How then do people still miss their flights? Please will someone enlighten me!

I will self-admit whenever I am at the airport I must take my time with the distraction of all that duty free and then head straight for the bar for a few drinks to wish the flight well, and with my disorganisation I have yet to miss a flight in this way.
Have you ever missed a flight and if so why? And would you resort to something similar to this man at Madrid airport ?