https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/aircraft-hijacked-near-seattle-crashes-after-wild-chase/
Plane stolen by ‘suicidal’ employee crashes near Seattle
An onlooker captured a shot of the Alaska Airlines plane in the skies over Seattle. "We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. We believe there are no passengers on board. More information as we learn more." | Twitter video
Elaine Thompson and Michael Balsamo | AP
SEATAC, Wash. — A “suicidal” airline employee stole an empty Horizon Air turboprop plane, took off from Sea-Tac International Airport and was chased by military jets before crashing into a small island in the Puget Sound on Friday night, officials said.
Preliminary information suggests the crash occurred because the 29-year-old man was “doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills,” the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said.
Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, said on Twitter the man was suicidal and there was no connection to terrorism.
Video showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. There were no passengers aboard. Authorities initially said the man was a mechanic but Alaska Airlines later said he was believed to be a ground service agent employed by Horizon. Those employees direct aircraft for takeoff and gate approach and de-ice planes.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane being chased by military aircraft before it crashed on Ketron Island, southwest of Tacoma, Washington. Troyer said F-15 aircraft scrambled out of Portland, Oregon, and were in the air “within a few minutes” and the pilots kept “people on the ground safe.”
The sheriff’s department said they were working to conduct a background investigation on the Pierce County resident, whose name was not immediately released.
View image on Twitter
Leslie Lopez
✔@abc7leslielopez
Stuck on the taxiway at Seattle SeaTac Airport- getting reports a plane was stolen. No planes are moving. @ABC7
1:28 PM - Aug 11, 2018 · SeaTac, WA
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Ben Schaechter@Bensign
Halfway down the runway on Alaska airlines out of Seattle and the pilot slams on the brakes and shares we must go back to the gate. Quite a scary experience. Not entirely sure what’s happening. Someone sneak on board?
12:22 PM - Aug 11, 2018
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Twitter lit up with posts speculating about the circumstances of the plane’s hijacking and what might happen.
Gary Horcher
✔@GaryKIRO7
Air traffic controllers We’re trying to get someone named “Rich” piloting the on authorized Horizon flight to land safely. We’re following reports of a crash now near Anderson Island
1:39 PM - Aug 11, 2018 · SeaTac, WA
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Kris Van Cleave
✔@krisvancleave
FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle
Victoria@Mickaleets
Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. He is flying around the airport, he does not know how to land it. Happening right now. SeaTac airport.
1:36 PM - Aug 11, 2018 · Washington, DC
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After a chase by fighter jets, the aircraft crashed.
Plane stolen by ‘suicidal’ employee crashes near Seattle
An onlooker captured a shot of the Alaska Airlines plane in the skies over Seattle. "We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. We believe there are no passengers on board. More information as we learn more." | Twitter video
Elaine Thompson and Michael Balsamo | AP
SEATAC, Wash. — A “suicidal” airline employee stole an empty Horizon Air turboprop plane, took off from Sea-Tac International Airport and was chased by military jets before crashing into a small island in the Puget Sound on Friday night, officials said.
Preliminary information suggests the crash occurred because the 29-year-old man was “doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills,” the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said.
Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, said on Twitter the man was suicidal and there was no connection to terrorism.
Video showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. There were no passengers aboard. Authorities initially said the man was a mechanic but Alaska Airlines later said he was believed to be a ground service agent employed by Horizon. Those employees direct aircraft for takeoff and gate approach and de-ice planes.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane being chased by military aircraft before it crashed on Ketron Island, southwest of Tacoma, Washington. Troyer said F-15 aircraft scrambled out of Portland, Oregon, and were in the air “within a few minutes” and the pilots kept “people on the ground safe.”
The sheriff’s department said they were working to conduct a background investigation on the Pierce County resident, whose name was not immediately released.
View image on Twitter
Leslie Lopez
✔@abc7leslielopez
Stuck on the taxiway at Seattle SeaTac Airport- getting reports a plane was stolen. No planes are moving. @ABC7
1:28 PM - Aug 11, 2018 · SeaTac, WA
Ben Schaechter@Bensign
Halfway down the runway on Alaska airlines out of Seattle and the pilot slams on the brakes and shares we must go back to the gate. Quite a scary experience. Not entirely sure what’s happening. Someone sneak on board?
12:22 PM - Aug 11, 2018
Twitter lit up with posts speculating about the circumstances of the plane’s hijacking and what might happen.
Gary Horcher
✔@GaryKIRO7
Air traffic controllers We’re trying to get someone named “Rich” piloting the on authorized Horizon flight to land safely. We’re following reports of a crash now near Anderson Island
1:39 PM - Aug 11, 2018 · SeaTac, WA
Kris Van Cleave
✔@krisvancleave
FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle
Victoria@Mickaleets
Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. He is flying around the airport, he does not know how to land it. Happening right now. SeaTac airport.
1:36 PM - Aug 11, 2018 · Washington, DC
After a chase by fighter jets, the aircraft crashed.