An Alaska Airlines Horizon Q400 (tail number N449QX) was stolen this evening from Seattle’s SEATAC International Airport by a 29 year-old individual named “Rich”. The aircraft departed SEATAC International and was spotted flying erratic maneuvers around the Seattle area. Two F-15s from the Oregon Air National Guard were directed to intercept the aircraft. In a video shot by an eyewitness, you can see the Q400 flying low and fast with a F-15 tracking the rogue aircraft from above. The Q400 later crashed on Ketron Island in the southern part of Puget Sound. Alaska Airlines confirmed the crash in a tweet (see below).

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

Here’s what we know so far…

Update four 12:15am 8/11/2018

The FBI is taking lead on the investigation with the NTSB to support.

The FBI continues to work with our state, local, and federal partners to gather a complete picture of what transpired with tonight’s unauthorized Horizon aircraft takeoff and crash. We don’t anticipate that further details will be available tonight.

— FBI Seattle (@FBISeattle) August 11, 2018

Alaska Airlines posted the following information on their blog:

Update: 11:54 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2018
Alaska Airlines believes a ground service agent employed by Horizon Air was the individual responsible for flying the Horizon Q400 without clearance from Sea-Tac International Airport around 8 p.m. tonight.

The plane, which was taken from a maintenance position and was not scheduled for passenger flight, crashed about an hour later in a wooded area on Ketron Island in rural Pierce County. No ground structures were involved at the crash site.

Military jets were scrambled from Portland, but it does not appear that these jets were involved in the crash of the Horizon aircraft.

This individual who took the aircraft, who has not yet been positively identified until remains are examined, is believed to have been the only person on the plane when the plane was taken from a maintenance position at Sea-Tac.

First responders are at the crash site. Appropriate government agencies, including NTSB, FAA and FBI, have been notified.

Update three 11:27pm 8/10/2018

Video was posted by John Waldron on Facebook of the Q400’s flight.  In one of the clips you can clearly see the aircraft performing dangerous aerobatics. The turboprop pulled out of a loop just 100 feet above the sound. Click on the link to view the video.

A second video has emerged. It was posted by Jon Tornquist on Facebook. See below.

Update two 11:06pm 8/10/2018

Horizon Air’s Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen posted a video statement on YouTube.  In her statement she said that the hijacker was believed to be a Horizon employee.  She also said they think he was the only person onboard the aircraft.

Update one 10:52pm 8/10/2018

Here is a compilation with most of the audio from the hijacked aircraft.

http://garchives1.broadcastify.com/15227/20180810/201808102255-590200-15227.mp3

Original post:

“Ive got alot of people that care about me. It’s going to disappoint them to hear that I did this.”

It is believed that the hijacker was the only person onboard the aircraft. In a series of captured audio by Twitter user @jwsthomson, a man named Rich speaks with the controller multiple times regarding his predicament.  He appeared to be very emotional at times while also acknowledging that his behavior was far from acceptable.

I’m listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. Below are some of the clips. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

He sounds very emotional here. #seatac pic.twitter.com/eZAuuC5RNa

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

The hijacker asked if Alaska would make him a pilot if he landed it.

Air Traffic Control Audio from the stolen Q400 flight: “Hey, do you think if I land this successfully Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?” pic.twitter.com/17sScC6PFh

— Benjamin Bearup (@TheAviationBeat) August 11, 2018

His aircraft was low on fuel.

Here he is realizing how quickly he is burning through fuel. pic.twitter.com/ftnpowm9D4

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Video of the rouge aircraft

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

Video was taken by witnesses of the scene shortly after the crash

Twitter user @iRVvyBaun posted video of the scene just seconds after the crash. So far no video of the actual crash has emerged.

Seconds after the plan crashed pic.twitter.com/SgxmAr66WG

— iRViNGTON BiLLSWORTH (@iRVvyBaun) August 11, 2018

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