Air Mechanic Steals 76-Seater Airplane from US Airport
According to the Sheriff's Department of Pierce County, the man was suicidal and the incident does not have any connection to terrorism.
An air mechanic first stole an empty Horizon Airlines Plane and took off from the Sea-Tac International Airport, but after some time he realized that he has failed to fly and finally crashed near a small island in Puget Sound after being chased by Military jets.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the 29-year-old mechanic, who stole the Horizon Air Q400 plane, but crashed because he was doing stunts in the air and was lacking flying skills.
According to the Sheriff's Department of Pierce County, the man was suicidal and the incident does not have any connection to terrorism. The plane was being chased by two military aircrafts after it was stolen from the airport, before it crashed near Ketron Island, southwest of Tacoma, Washington.
Horizon Air’s Chief Operating Officer, Constance Von Muehlen in a statement informed in details about the sequence of the incident, “I’m sorry to share with you this evening that at approximately 8 p.m. one of our Q400 airplanes made an unauthorized takeoff from SeaTac airport. We believe it was taken by a single Horizon Air employee and that no other passengers or crew were on board, Shortly thereafter it crashed near Ketron Island by south Tacoma. Our hearts are with the family of the individual aboard as well as our Alaska Air and Horizon Air employees”.
Ed Troyer, a spokesperson for Pierce County Sheriff's Department also informed that the fighter jets were at a safe distance, “F-15 aircraft were in the air within a few minutes and the pilots kept people on the ground safe”.
Pierce County Sheriff's Department is working on a background investigation of the air mechanic who is a resident of Pierce County. Through the audio recording, which was recorded during his communication with the air traffic controllers, where it has been heard saying he is “just a broken guy”, seems the youth is mentally unstable.
The airliner, Horizon Air is part of Alaska Air Group that flies on the shorter routes throughout the US West. Spokesmen for the Transportation Security Administration, the US Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration directed inquiries to local authorities, while the FBI has taken over the investigation.
Meanwhile, the operations at Sea-Tac Airport has resumed being normal within few hours of the incident, now the questions will most likely be raised on how the employee was able to steal the plane in spite of the security arrangements.