Plane stolen by ‘suicidal’ airline worker crashed as fighter jets pursued it outside Seattle

[chaparral]

Ok i just notice this

The man was a ground service agent with more than three years of experience.
Those agents guide planes, handle bags and de-ice planes, Horizon Air says. Mike Ehl, the director of operations at SeaTac,
told reporters Saturday the man used a tractor to spin the plane 180 degrees so he could taxi to the runway.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...rsuit-outside-seattle/?utm_term=.95f48ece8ba7

 

[Diddums]

Yeah, it is possible. I mean, I use FSX and the PMDG 737. I’ve learnt the cold start, so I reckon I could do it on a real 737, and probably fly it. So I’m actually contradicting myself lol.

I have a copy of X-Plane 10 just rotting away here, lemme know if you want it.

 

[CREATIVE!11]

I've spent decades flying simulators, and I'm pretty confident that if given the chance I could fly it. Could execute a barrel roll far better than this fella did too.

You probably could yeah.... I mean some of flight sims are pretty realistic. Obviously the "feel" is lacking but you could probably wing it.

 

[VincentHanna]

From the BBC:

The 29-year-old had worked for Horizon Air for more than three years, towing and tidying aircraft and loading bags.

The man, not yet named, took off late on Friday, forcing the airport to close while two fighter jets gave chase.

So he wasn't a mechanic, but he did have full access.

 

[Em3bbs]

Where you seen it say he was a mechanic ?

I no seen that written anywhere yet..

A one second Google search:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/11/seattle-airport-closed-unauthorised-takeoff/

 

[Yadda]

From 5:58 in the video in post #3 by Minusorange.

I doubt aircraft mechanics are on minimum wage so it sounds like some papers have duff info.

For those who haven't watched it, or got bored before the audio starts, I recommend watching and listening to it all the way through.

 

[Tek81]

One hell of a way to go out. I'm glad he didn't take anyone with him though.

 

[Nasher]

Planes aren't that hard to fly. Landing and taking off without exploding are the hard parts

 

[Em3bbs]

I doubt aircraft mechanics are on minimum wage so it sounds like some papers have duff info.

Minimum wage in Seattle is $15 an hour, so not quite as bad as it sounds.

 

[Yadda]

Minimum wage in Seattle is $15 an hour, so not quite as bad as it sounds.

Sure, but I didn't say it was bad, only that aircraft mechanics probably get paid more, being skilled work and all.

 

[robfosters]

Minimum wage in Seattle is $15 an hour, so not quite as bad as it sounds.

Blimey, so shelf stackers get like, £12-£13 an hour?

 

[Ayahuasca]

Blimey, so shelf stackers get like, £12-£13 an hour?

Yes, but when you take into account house prices, cost of living and healthcare it’s not great. It must be up there as one of the most expensive places to live in the US.

 

[danlightbulb]

How is it possible to get in a plane and get it flying without proper authority. Simple as it sounds, do these things not have an ignition key equivalent?

Planes continually shock me how for something so full of technology can miss the simple stuff. All the radar and gps tech yet we can lose one without a trace.

 

[Purgatory]

 

[Purgatory]

How is it possible to get in a plane and get it flying without proper authority. Simple as it sounds, do these things not have an ignition key equivalent?

Planes continually shock me how for something so full of technology can miss the simple stuff. All the radar and gps tech yet we can lose one without a trace.

 

[Yadda]

I'm beginning to think "mechanic" means something else in America.

 

[LuckyBenski]

Obviously the "feel" is lacking but you could probably wing it.

I see what you did there

 

[Malevolence]

You probably could yeah.... I mean some of flight sims are pretty realistic. Obviously the "feel" is lacking but you could probably wing it.

That is a terrible yoke.

 

[dowie]

I guess if he's spent 3 or so years working with these planes, including having full access to them etc... then he'll probably know how to start the thing up and has probably been in it many times while it is moved/taken along the runway.

Glad no one else was killed.

 

[FBi7]

That is a terrible yoke.

What you did there, I see it! Hidden in plane sight!