David Augustus Burke was born on May 18, 1952, in Croydon, England, to Jamaican parents. His family later moved to the United States. They settled in New York, where David grew up. 

As a young man, David worked various jobs. One notable position was with USAir in Rochester, New York. He worked as a ticketing agent. During this time, he became a suspect in a drug-smuggling operation linked to cocaine being shipped from Jamaica to Rochester using the airline. Although he was never officially charged, his connection to this activity led him to leave New York and move to Los Angeles to escape any further suspicion.

David's personal life was complicated. He had seven children with four different women, but he never married. Those who knew him described him as a violent man. His former girlfriends and neighbors, as well as law enforcement, noted this trait before he became known for later events. 

David Augustus Burke hijacked Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 on December 7, 1987. After being fired from USAir, he purchased a ticket for the flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He used his employee credentials, which he had not surrendered, to avoid security and board the plane. Burke was armed with a Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum revolver.

Once on board, he wrote a message on an airsickness bag directed at his former manager, Ray Thomson, who was also aboard the flight. It is believed that Burke shot Thomson first. The cockpit voice recorder later picked up sounds of gunshots and the pilot's attempts to communicate about the situation.

Burke then turned his weapon on the flight crew, shooting the captain and first officer. After incapacitating them, Burke caused the plane to dive towards the ground. The aircraft crashed into a hillside at a high speed, disintegrating on impact. All 43 people on board, including Burke, died in the crash.

Investigators found the parts of the handgun and Burke's notes in the wreckage, which linked him to the attack. The crash resulted in significant changes to airline security regulations, especially concerning employee credentials and access.