SEATTLE — A worker at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport stole a Horizon Air passenger airplane and crashed it into the Puget Sound in an apparent suicide attempt Friday night, authorities said.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said the 29-year-old man acted alone. His condition after the crash was not revealed.
There were no passengers onboard. The aircraft was stolen about 8 p.m. Alaska Airlines said it was in a “maintenance position” and not scheduled for a passenger flight.
“This is not a terrorist incident,” sheriff’s department spokesman Ed Troyer said via Twitter.
Air traffic controllers were in communication with the man, who identified himself as Rich, and tried to convince him to land at McChord Field. 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.
“I’ve got a lot of people that care about me,” he told air traffic controllers. “It’s going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Never really knew it until now.”
Witnesses reported seeing the Bombardier Q400, a turboprop aircraft, perform a loop-the-loop and nearly slam into Chambers Bay, all while being pursued by fighter jets.
Troyer confirmed that two U.S. Air Force F-15s intercepted the plane within minutes of its departure from Sea-Tac, but they were not involved in its crash near Ketron Island.
“Pilots kept plane out of harm’s way and people on ground safe,” he said.
Several questions remained unanswered Friday, including how the man gained access to the aircraft. Airport officials initially described the incident as an “unauthorized takeoff.”
“An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound,” the airport said via Twitter. “Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed.”
HELP IS AVAILABLE:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24 hours a day at 800-273-8255.
