Narrative:
A Horizon Air DHC-8-402Q was stolen by a 29-year old airline ground-service agent from Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, Washington, USA. The aircraft took off and began maneuvering over Puget Sound and was seen to perform a barrel roll. During these maneuvers the person in control of the aircraft was in radio contact with air traffic control.
A McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft was dispatched and followed the aircraft.
The aircraft then crashed into Ketron Island, 40 km to the southwest of the Seattle/Tacoma Airport. The sole person on board the aircraft was killed.
Sources:
» https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/08/10/horizon-jet-crashes-after-being-stolen-by-sea-tac.html» Seattle/Tacoma ATC audio including contact with N449QX
» List of aircraft crashes involving non-pilots stealing an aircraft
| Status: | Preliminary |
| Date: | Friday 10 August 2018 |
| Time: | ca 20:00 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 |
| Operator: | Horizon Air |
| On behalf of: | Alaska Airlines |
| Registration: | N449QX |
| C/n / msn: | 4410 |
| First flight: | 2012 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Ketron Island, WA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Illegal Flight |
| Departure airport: | Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA (SEA/KSEA), United States of America |
| ? |