All traffic at SeaTac has been stopped as a Q400 took off without authorization. No one knows for sure what happened, but it sounds like a mechanic stole an empty regional airliner and F-15s have been scrambled. This is not something you see every day.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Unconfirmed reports now that stolen aircraft is down over a rural area. No one is sure if it crashed or was shot down.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Video of the plane performing erratic maneuvers with an F-15 in chase. https://twitter.com/drbmbdgty

From this video, I can say 100% that's a member of the Dash-8 family, so that would be consistent with the early reports of it being a Q400.

The plane is for certain down now as there are smoke plumes on the ground from other photos.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Vince Gilligan couldn't write a better thriller. or maybe he'll think, "damn. if only this happened 8 years ago."

Alaska Airlines confirms incident.

Alaska Airlines
‏
Verified account

@AlaskaAir
1m1 minute ago
More
We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. We believe there are no passengers on board. More information as we learn more.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

All US cable news channels are asleep at the wheel with no coverage. I guess covering a real news story instead of having panels of pundits yelling at each other is too much to ask. I have to go to fucking Twitter for news...

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Good planes those. Porter flies them to Canada from MDW. I dont think they are in FSX, or at least not in FSX: Steam Edition, so guy probably didn't have any other choice if he wanted to pursue an authentic multiplayer experience.

I imagine work will suck for the next couple weeks.

Makes the autistic guy commandeering MTA subway trains because he really really likes trains look like child's play.

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Sadly it seems that planes-autismo got the shit blown out of him by a fighter jet and we have probably heard the last of him.

I love the MTA guy because he knows more about the subway than just about anybody and would probably make a pretty good employee for them if they'd stop stepping on his toes.

I'm guessing he got an AIM-9 up his ass.

As a result of this, SeaTac is still shut down for departures. They are taking arrivals though

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Live coverage from KING (NBC affiliate)

https://www.king5.com/live-video

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

He clearly knew how to fly the thing. If he was really pulling off acrobatics that video shows him in a totally normal bank turn. He was in control and that thing didn't crash unless either he wanted it to or it got blown the fuck up.

I wonder if he just asked the tower for a VFR departure if all these theatrics would've occurred. My familiarity with these things ends past a certain point.

Additional info confirms it was an employee who stole the plane. Info seems to indicate it was "flight into terrain" rather than a shoot down.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Scrambled F-15C's here:

https://twitter.com/Sabian404/status/10 ... 9747051521

I see 1 AIM-120 and 1 AIM-9 on the visible hardpoints plus a droptank. I'd expect the same on the left wing hardpoints.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Just listened to the audio. Sounds like it didn’t register what happened until the dude was up in the air. Sad stuff.

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-- source

Here is audio of him talking with ATC.

This sounds like a guy who played a bunch of GTA and thought it was that easy to fly.

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

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Guy is a hero.

"Hey pilot-guy, you think this thing can do a back flip?"

Legend.

Listening to ATC he clearly was on a one-way trip.

So he was asking the ATCs for advice on how to fly it or just where to fly? I couldn't quite understand.

He was just chatting with them. He wanted to see some mountains from the air, do some stunts then end it all. Seemed like a decent guy.

Who just cost the airport and police &tc. a million dollars.

The aircraft is insured. Nobody got hurt. Hopefully there is minimal environmental damage, but he obviously didnt start a fire so that's good.

Nah. This dude is just a try hard burrito. The true professionals have an exit bag and let their pets eat their faces until bloat and stench draws the inevitable well-being check.

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DB Cooper Jr.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Top Gun tribute:

dude pulled highlights from the audio.

https://twitter.com/jwsthomson/with_replies

The rogue pilot/mechanic is Rich, age 29, from--where else?--Florida. Where he and his wife had a cupcake shop for 5 years before it went under. So Rich took a minimum wage job wrenching on planes while he waits for his dream of joining the US Army to happen.

Alaska Airlines pays their mechanics min wage? Dafugg. Or is min wage in Washington State like 15-20 an hour? That still seems low for
for that job. Waitstaff in Seattle restaurants used to get paid like $10-$12 min wage by state law and supposedly you don't have to tip em; but many people, esp tourists, still do.

From the chatter, sounds like the plane wasn't gassed up before take-off and he ran out of fuel--but then why the fireball when it went down.

ATC Andrew played it Chesley Sullenberger cool:

This guy sounds like he posts here.

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That dead pilot and me have been having a hell of a time the last week in heaven.

Also, fuck you Maverick