SeaTac stolen plane

[Roadrunnersmother]

Any details whether it was shot down or downed intentionally?

[Old fella]

Air Alaska/Horizon Air Q400. Dude took it for a joy ride , chased by F-15 but latest it crashed.

[Brock_Landers]

https://airwaysmag.com/uncategorized/br ... r-seattle/

A quote from a tweet in the article:
“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.”

[golden hawk]

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/08/1 ... s-say.html

Funny looking Q400

[GolfGolf]

http://garchives1.broadcastify.com/1522 ... -15227.mp3

The ATC recording. A few bits and pieces as they try and talk 'Rich' down.

[AirFrame]

Any details whether it was shot down or downed intentionally?

It's highly unlikely that you will ever see a US aircraft shot down over US airspace.

[AirFrame]

Video of the barrel roll (not really a loop) is on social media... F-15 circling at a safe distance.

[edit] This was easier to find than I expected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeYVtVg6aGs

[Loner]

Any details whether it was shot down or downed intentionally?

It's highly unlikely that you will ever see a US aircraft shot down over US airspace.

Oh yeah?! Would you venture to test this theory by violating a TFR? ...when Air Force One comes around?...

[RunwayWindAltimer]

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/08/1 ... s-say.html

Funny looking Q400

What's funny about it?

[light chop]

I guess I wasted a lot of time and money on all that flight training stuff - apparently playing video games is all you need to do to hop into a commuter class turbine twin, takeoff, fly around and barrel roll it successfully. How did this guy even figure out how to get this thing fired up?

[MUSKEG]

I would guess he was an engineer who’d been given clearance by company to start aircraft engines and taxi to run up area as part of his job to do systems checks.

[lhalliday]

It's common for maintenance personnel to have training in engine startup and taxiing so they can move planes around.

I flew my Musketeer to Renton (KRNT) the day before. Only ATC issue was Renton Tower kept calling my plane a Sundowner. And, as usual, Seattle Approach freaked when a little plane called, so they told me to remain clear of the Bravo.

...laura

[Loner]

Alaska Airlines later said he was believed to be a ground service agent employed by Horizon.

[JetSetter87]

What a crazy maneuver!! That guy has some serious skill...for real lol

[Gino Under]

That Q must be a really tough SOB. He sure put it through the paces.

But I have to say, what a truly heartbreaking event. I can't help but feel for him and his parents. Horizon will get another airplane out of their insurers.
How messed up does a 29 year old have to be to do something so dramatic and final???
Kudos to the Atco who tried to talk him down. And kudos to the hijacker who expressed his desire to keep away from causing anyone other than himself harm.

Sad. Very sad indeed.

Gino Under

[golden hawk]

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/08/1 ... s-say.html

Funny looking Q400

What's funny about it?

Fox News has since edited the article; it originally showed a 737.

[BE02 Driver]

Maybe he pulled a DB Cooper and exited via the overhead hatch?

[rookiepilot]

Maybe he pulled a DB Cooper and exited via the overhead hatch?

BE02, sensitivity, dude.

Do you get the simple fact in this incident that mental illness isn't a joke? It's completely tragic, as Gino says. Think of this man's family for one second.

[Loner]

Maybe he pulled a DB Cooper and exited via the overhead hatch?

BE02, sensitivity of any kind is lost on you.

Do you get the simple fact inthis incident that mental illness isn't a joke? It's completely tragic, as Gino says. Think of this man's family for one second.
Then Shut the F up.

Come on Rookiepilot, don’t turn this into an uncivilized discussion.
Listening to ATC communication with “Rich” was chilling enough and I agree with Gino’s comments but let BE02 dream a bit of a happy ending, this thought doesn’t hurt anyone.

[grimey]

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/08/1 ... s-say.html

Funny looking Q400

What's funny about it?

At least one article I saw had the tail of something far smaller than a Q400 sticking out of the water. A lot of reporting on specialized topics is garbage, aviation is no exception. The article was probably updated after his post to remove something similar.

[Eric Janson]

I guess I wasted a lot of time and money on all that flight training stuff - apparently playing video games is all you need to do to hop into a commuter class turbine twin, takeoff, fly around and barrel roll it successfully. How did this guy even figure out how to get this thing fired up?

Flight Sim programs are very accurate and realistic - just look on YouTube.

There are plenty of 'how to' videos for real aircraft as well.

Some study and practice will get you a long way.

[BE02 Driver]

Maybe he pulled a DB Cooper and exited via the overhead hatch?

BE02, sensitivity, dude.

Do you get the simple fact in this incident that mental illness isn't a joke? It's completely tragic, as Gino says. Think of this man's family for one second.

It wasn't a joke. Until they find human remains, faking ones death is always an investigative possibility. See below.

Russell has been presumed dead in the crash of the Horizon Air Q400 turboprop on Ketron Island, though investigators continue to search the site.

[rookiepilot]

Maybe he pulled a DB Cooper and exited via the overhead hatch?

BE02, sensitivity, dude.

Do you get the simple fact in this incident that mental illness isn't a joke? It's completely tragic, as Gino says. Think of this man's family for one second.

It wasn't a joke. Until they find human remains, faking ones death is always an investigative possibility. See below.

Russell has been presumed dead in the crash of the Horizon Air Q400 turboprop on Ketron Island, though investigators continue to search the site.

OK fair enough. That is a possibility I suppose. I listened to the audio though. Heartbreaking all I'm saying.

[laminar]

Sad situation. Listening to the communications it seems like Richard might’ve been talked out of it if there wasn’t the looming thought of the arrest and criminal charges if he were to bring the plane down safely. It’s tough when a person has the means to “end it” in their hands - in this case pushing the yoke forward. The luxury of time to talk him down wasn’t really there with the fuel situation. At least nobody else was hurt.

[BE02 Driver]

BE02, sensitivity, dude.

Do you get the simple fact in this incident that mental illness isn't a joke? It's completely tragic, as Gino says. Think of this man's family for one second.

It wasn't a joke. Until they find human remains, faking ones death is always an investigative possibility. See below.

Russell has been presumed dead in the crash of the Horizon Air Q400 turboprop on Ketron Island, though investigators continue to search the site.

OK fair enough. That is a possibility I suppose. I listened to the audio though. Heartbreaking all I'm saying.

I mean, I'm a realist, I understand it's 99.99% that he went down with that plane. It's just the oddest case of mental illness I've ever scene, and yes, I've dealt with a lot of mental illness over the years.

It's incredible that someone that has no diagnoses of mental illness, even by his own admission, that was the first time he even noticed it. To then have a suicidal episode and still have the wherewithal to start a relatively complex machine, taxi, fly etc. Its a pretty unique situation. I'm no pyschologist, but this is almost beyond belief. It makes me believe that there has to be more to this.

But, maybe it's as cut and dry as everyone is saying.