WA - Major security incident at SeaTac Airport. All planes are grounded, Aug 2018

[FlossyMay]

Wikipedia says 17 people lived on Ketron Island in the 2010 census.

Ketron Island, Washington - Wikipedia

 

[Seattle1]

Firefighters took ferry to island and fighting the fire now.

Near Chambers Bay - south Bay

Fighter jets came from Portland to take him down and not Whidbey or Joint Lewis -McChord AFB in WA

Transcribing from live broadcast

 

[Betty P]

Do aircraft mechanics get minimum wage? I would not have thought so.

Average wage for a US aircraft mechanic is $24.83 hr.

Aircraft Mechanic Salaries in the United States | Indeed.com

They're likely employed on a contract basis and given 30 hrs or less work per week so employer doesn't have to provide benefits. Many of these are not union jobs. It's an expensive area to live in. Growing numbers of homeless working people there.

No excuse for what he did, but there are a lot of depressed working folks out there who are struggling.

 

[Seattle1]

Mechanic not trained pilot -- possible suicide plan
He was asking ATC if the Dash 8 could do flips.
Coincidentally, BLUE ANGELS performed at annual air show last weekend for Seattle Sea Fair.
Used a cargo runway

Transcribing from live broadcast..

 

[Jennifer17]

Average wage for a US aircraft mechanic is $24.83 hr.

Aircraft Mechanic Salaries in the United States | Indeed.com

They're likely employed on a contract basis and given 30 hrs or less work per week so employer doesn't have to provide benefits. Many of these are not union jobs. It's an expensive area to live in. Growing numbers of homeless working people there.

No excuse for what he did, but there are a lot of depressed working folks out there who are struggling.

Really? Where I live minimum wage for first starters is over $18 dollars an hour. And even if you are on casual wages (much higher) you get pro rata holidays and sick pay.

 

[Seattle1]

Plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashes on island; no passengers on board
No passengers were on board a plane stolen from Sea-Tac International Airport and crash-landed onto a small Washington island.

Author: KING Staff
Published: 9:25 PM PDT August 10, 2018
Updated: 10:37 PM PDT August 10, 2018
An airplane crashed Friday evening after an airport employee conducted an "unauthorized take-off" according to a Sea-Tac International Airport official.

The aircraft crash-landed onto Ketron Island in south Puget Sound.

Alaska Airlines said that a Horizon Air Q400 was involved in the incident.

The employee is a 29-year-old Pierce County resident, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. The department believes he acted alone.

Edit: add link Seattle's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and More | Seattle, Washington | KING5.com

 

[FlossyMay]

Airplane Mechanic Allegedly Hijacks Plane Closing Down a Seattle Airport Before Doing Stunts & Crashing

During the radio exchange, an air traffic control personnel by the name of Captain Bill attempted to steer Rich away from flying over the airport in order to avoid a collision that would risk the lives of multiple people.

“I feel like one of my engines has gone out,” Rich told the captain as he flew the empty plane.

Rich then offered to do a barrel roll, however, Bill, whose last name was not immediately available, told him that was not advisable.

Instead, Bill told him to fly over the water in order to avoid hitting people.

 

[Betty P]

Really? Where I live minimum wage for first starters is over $18 dollars an hour. And even if you are on casual wages (much higher) you get pro rata holidays and sick pay.

Where I live, minimum wage is much lower and most low wage workers don't get 40 hrs per week, but less so no benefits. It's why many have to work 2 or more jobs. They earn just enough to not qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford rent, food, health insurance, car payment, etc.

Seattle metro area has the 5th highest homeless population in the US, many working people.

 

[Seattle1]

Plane was doing air stunts
Fighter pilots escorted plane towards the remote island
No casualties except pilot at this time

From the cockpit:

"Gotta a lot of people that care about me, and it's going to disappoint them that I did this."
"Those guys will rough me up if I bring it down there (at request to land at military base)."
Worried about his fuel

Transcribed from live broadcast...

 

[lemmon714]

Commercial airliner is 'hijacked from Seattle-Tacoma Airport', say reports | Daily Mail

plenty of visuals

 

[Lilibet]

I feel so sorry for his family, friends and co-workers. And for Rich, who apparently had a death wish. Thankfully, he didn’t kill anyone else in the process.

 

[lemmon714]

Bizarre audio from stolen Horizon Air plane between rogue pilot and air traffic control | Metro News

 

[Seattle1]

SeaTac is 9th busiest airport in the country and this could have been so much worse. The fact only 1 fatality is near miracle.

There were 40,000 at Safeco field this evening

No fire fighting equipment on island, and 220 acres being fought from ferry

Q400 aircraft

 

[Seattle1]

Q400

• Range: 1,114 nm
• Length: 107 ft, 9 in (32.9 m)
• Coach: 76 passenger
• Typical Cruise Speed: 414 mph (667 km/h)
• Wingspan: 93 ft, 3 in (28.4 m)
• Max. Cruising Altitude: 25,000 ft (7,620 m

 

[Scepter]

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UPDATE: 2:13 a.m. EDT Aug. 11: In a YouTube video released early Saturday, Horizon Air Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen said she believed the plane was taken by a Horizon employee. “Our hearts are with the family of the individual aboard as well as all our Horizon Air and Alaska Air employees,” she said.

Live updates: Passenger plane taken from Seattle-Tacoma Airport, crashes into island

 

[gitana1]

Plane was doing air stunts
Fighter pilots escorted plane towards the remote island
No casualties except pilot at this time

From the cockpit:

"Gotta a lot of people that care about me, and it's going to disappoint them that I did this."
"Those guys will rough me up if I bring it down there (at request to land at military base)."
Worried about his fuel

Transcribed from live broadcast...

It's super sad. You can hear him speak on twitter. Sounds like an affable guy. I'm sad for him and his loved ones.

Twitter

 

[Inspector Gidget]

The plane that crashed was a $32.2 million dollar plane. Bombardier Dash 8 - Wikipedia

 

[Hazelnutty]

Did he crash on purpose?
Shot down?
Can't imagine a scenario like this as a suicide . Just seems odd. Spur of the moment decision? Planned?
Hate this for the guys family.

 

[Inspector Gidget]

This tragic situation could of been so much worse.Bill did a wonderful job of handling him under that kind of pressure.Sad Rich's life had to end this way.At least he knew he was loved.

 

[gitana1]

Ugh. One of the saddest things ever. Poor man.