'Suicidal' mechanic stole empty plane then crashed into island after F15 chase

A “suicidal” airline mechanic stole an empty plane before flying around an airport then crashing near a small island.

The 29-year-old mechanic stole the Alaska Airlines Horizon Air Q400 and took off from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle, Washington state.

Military fighter jets were scrambled and followed the plane which then crashed near Ketron Island, south west of Tacoma, Washington. There were no passengers aboard.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said preliminary information suggested that the crash was caused by the person “doing stunts in the air or lack of flying skills”.

Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, said on Twitter that the man was suicidal and there was no connection to terrorism.

In a series of tweets, he said F15s were scrambled out of Portland and arrived within a few minutes of the theft of plane.

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He said he was working with FBI and Military while the sheriff’s department said they were working to conduct a background investigation on the man.

The man could reportedly be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is “just a broken guy”.

The US Coast Guard sent a 45-foot vessel to the crash scene after witnesses reported seeing a large plume of smoke in the air, Petty Officer Ali Flockerzi said.

Horizon Air is part of Alaska Air Group and flies shorter routes throughout the US West. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats.