BREAKING: Fighter jets SCRAMBLED in Seattle as plane STOLEN from airport
BREAKING: Fighter jets SCRAMBLED in Seattle as plane STOLEN from airport
AIRSPACE has been closed and fighter jets scrambled following an aircraft being stolen and flown without authorisation from Seattle Tacoma airport in Washington, US.
By CAITLIN DOHERTY
PUBLISHED: 05:43, Sat, Aug 11, 2018 | UPDATED: 05:54, Sat, Aug 11, 2018
SeaTac airport confirmed an airline member of staff took the plane.
In a statement, the airport said: “An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound”
The local Sherriff’s office have suggested the pilot of the stolen plane was a mechanic or other person with minimal flying experience.
Pierce County Sheriff confirmed on Twitter: “Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. Was doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills caused crash into Island.”
They claimed to know the identity of the male pilot, and confirmed the plane was purposefully brought down.
In a later statement, they also reaffirmed the incident was not terror related.
Alaska Airlines have confirmed an incident with one of their aircraft.
In a statement on Twitter the airline said: “We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400.
“We believe there are no passengers on board.”
The Q400 place can carry up to 90 passengers when full, but was believed to be empty at the time of the incident.
Military jets were seen following a commercial airliner in the area.
Unconfirmed video footage and photographs appear to show a plane flying low followed by F15s, and a short time later, plumes of smoke.
Local media reports suggest the plane crashed in the Ketron Island area.
Aerial images show fire burning on Ketron Island.
Seattle Tacoma or SeaTac is the ninth busiest airport in the US.
More to follow...
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...washington-usa
