Two F-15 fighter jets scrambled from Portland 'minutes later' to intercept it, according to Pierce County Sheriff's Office. Pictured is the hijacked plane, top, and one of the F-15s beneath it
A suicidal airport employee on Friday hijacked an empty commercial plane from Seattle-Tacoma Airport before crashing it into an island 25 miles away after being pursued by F-15 fighter jets.
The 76-seater Horizon Air turboprop Q400 took off at around 8pm, and two F-15 fighter jets scrambled from Portland 'minutes later' to intercept it, according to Pierce County Sheriff's Office.Witnesses described seeing the aircraft performing barrel rolls and loop-the-loops as the military planes directed it away from highly-populated areas and towards Ketron Island, where it crashed into a ball of flame.
While still in the air, the pilot was heard telling traffic controllers he was 'just a broken guy' before telling them he was preparing for 'jail time for life'. Police blamed 'doing stunts in the air and a lack of flying skills' for the crash.
The pilot was a 29-year-old from Pierce County, Washington, who was 'suicidal' and acting alone, the Sheriff's Office said. He has not been named, but air traffic controllers addressed him as 'Rich'.
Sheriff Paul Pastor confirmed the incident was 'not terrorist related' and described it as 'a joyride gone terribly wrong'.
In a statement just before midnight, Alaska Airlines said a ground service agent took an out-of-service plane without clearance. Part of a ground service agents job is to direct and de-ice planes, as well as managing luggage.
The aircraft was not scheduled for passenger flights, they added.
These images show the hijacked Horizon Air Q400 which took off from Seattle-Tacoma Airport on Friday before crashing 25 miles away in south Puget Sound (left, in the air; right, after the crash)
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