A Horizon Air Q400 turbojet was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport then crashed 25 miles away as it was being pursued by F-15s. Sadly, this is not a joke.
Alaska Airlines, of which Horizon is a subsidiary, initially issued this statement on Twitter:
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.
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018
As more details emerged, here is what we have learned:
- A disgruntled 29-year-old mechanic hijacked a 76-seat Q400 at SEA around 8:00 P.M. PDT
- No passengers were onboard
- After the unauthorized takeoff, F-15 fighter jets were scrambled immediately from Portland, Oregon
- The mechanic performed aerial acrobatics including barrel rolls and flying upside down
- He joked about “jail time for life” with air traffic controllers
- F-15s appeared
- The plane crashed on Ketron Island, a densely wooded island
- The hijacker died, but no one else was injured
We've confirmed a Horizon Air Q400 that had an unauthorized takeoff from SeaTac around 8pm has gone down near Ketron Island in Pierce County, WA. We're working to confirm who was on board, we believe there were no guests or crew on board other than the person operating the plane.
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018
During this scare, all departures from SEA were halted. The airport has now re-opened for departures.
An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed.
— Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018
Check out this video:
Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. Weird times. pic.twitter.com/Ra4LcIhwfU
— bmbdgty (@drbmbdgty) August 11, 2018
My Thoughts
It boggles my mind that an aircraft could be stolen like this in 2018. But I am curious: do commercial jetliners have keys? How easy is it for a rogue mechanic to steal a plane? What security mechanisms are in place, if any, to prevent someone who breaches an airport fence from stealing a plane?
The identity of the thief has not been released yet, though his name was apparently Rich.
As odd as it sounds, I’m actually thankful tonight. Imagine if this was done with passengers onboard or had crashed in a busier place? To say “it could have been worse” borders on crass, but I am thankful only one person was killed. I am also very saddened that one person was killed. What an unexpected incident…
image: Bartlomiej Mostek / Flickr
Commercial airliners do not have keys. Typically there is a startup sequence that involves a few checklists to get all systems online and powered up. After which you can start the engines. I’ll keep it vague for obvious reasons.
No keys, just switches which a mechanic would be familiar with. They start and do sometimes taxi them for testing after maintenance. So sorry for his family,yet, thankful he did not fly it into a building, freeway bridge or Safeco field during a concert…
Commercial airliners don’t have “keys”. The only “key” is the series of methodical steps required to start up the aircraft. Anyone with an intimate knowledge of the aircraft & its flight deck could attempt this. Unbeknownst to the general public, pilots aren’t the only ones trained to start an aircraft — nor are they the only ones that need to start an aircraft.
Like most commercial aircraft, you can find the startup checklist online via google along with pictures of the cockpit layout. Many flight sims also have commercial aircraft with realistic layouts for someone to “practice”.
Plane was not ” hijacked”……it was stolen.
The plane wasn’t hijacked, it was stolen…. Thanks Wally, again the American education system raises it’s ugly head….
“Rears” not “raises”
And no apostrophe in its.
Thanks your comment.
It still was not “hijacked”, will your correct the title of your article? Or were you going for the sensationalism of hijacked over stolen?
I completely disagree with the characterization “disgruntled”. The 29 year old might have had the most fun of his life and airline mechanics make decent money. So just saying he was bored works better than disgruntled.
Bored and suicidal. His conversation with air traffic control made pretty clear he did not intend to return alive.
Hmmmm…..always thought “hijacked” meant the owner was present and it was removed from the owners possession by force. Is this no longer defining this action? If it was, in fact a hijack as we know it, then it should be duly and adequately described. If it was in fact, stolen, the headlines should make that differential. What do you think , my good man? Also, very nicely written if I may say so myself, but alas, my comments are in dire need of proofing. Toodle doo.
the headline is very misleading
Actually it’s not.