Stolen Q400 Horizon Air Plane

[CloneinWDSM]

Just seeing this story. Supposedly a mechanic stole a Q400 Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air) plane and was looping around the Seattle Area?

2 F15 Fighter Jets were trailing it. Not sure of what happened during the crash.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/heavy....c-plane-stolen-hijacked-grounded-seattle/amp/

 

[Cyclonepride]

Very odd.

 

[ripvdub]

I heard the audio between the thief of the plane and air control, it was odd.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Reminds me of this video...

 

[NWICY]

Sounds like unaddressed mental health issues. Glad only the pilot was killed could have went much worse.

 

[SECyclone]

Thinks he could fly it, because he practiced on video games. wow

 

[baller21]

The trick to landing is flying low and slow over water and bailing out like the barefoot bandit.

 

[wxman1]

First off kudos to ATC, Oregon ANG and everyone else involved for handling this in a very professional manner.

Sad that this man did this but he obviously had some unresolved mental health issues. It ended about as well as it could have.

 

[wxman1]

Thinks he could fly it, because he practiced on video games. wow

Modern technology has allowed sims to become VERY realistic. Spend a couple hundred and you will have a great set up and be able to learn systems and flows fairly well. Everything is documented and out there to help as well.

The first time airline pilots actually fly the plane is with paying passengers in back. Until then all of their experience is in extremely realistic simulators and classroom.

 

[SECyclone]

Modern technology has allowed sims to become VERY realistic. Spend a couple hundred and you will have a great set up and be able to learn systems and flows fairly well. Everything is documented and out there to help as well.

The first time airline pilots actually fly the plane is with paying passengers in back. Until then all of their experience is in extremely realistic simulators and classroom.

Yeah I understand that for actual pilots but I’m assuming he downloaded flight simulator on his phone. Maybe I missed the part where it was a high end simulator

 

[LincolnWay187]

Thinks he could fly it, because he practiced on video games. wow

He did get it started and into the air though..

 

[ISUCubswin]

He was doing loops and seemed to have it under control - he was talking about how much gas he had and was refusing to land at an airfield.

I think he knew how to fly it just fine, and I think he knew it would result in him dying and he was fine with that as well.

 

[NorthCyd]

first time airline pilots actually fly the plane is with paying passengers in back. Until then all of their experience is in extremely realistic simulators and classroom.

Yeah but they still have hundreds of hours actual flight time in other types of aircraft.

 

[CycloneErik]

 

[wxman1]

Yeah I understand that for actual pilots but I’m assuming he downloaded flight simulator on his phone. Maybe I missed the part where it was a high end simulator

I don't think it has been announced yet but it is certainly a possibility. Check out Infinite Flight for mobile and XPlane on desktop.

 

[deadeyededric]

I think most planes have autoland. They might have been able to get him back to Sea-Tac if he would have had a moment of clarity.

 

[ISUAlum2002]

Some of the ATC audio out there is.....interesting.

Guy was worried that they had set up anti aircraft munitions at a nearby airport that ATC was trying to get him to land at.

 

[wxman1]

I think most planes have autoland. They might have been able to get him back to Sea-Tac if he would have had a moment of clarity.

That would be assuming that he knows how to set it up.

 

[flycy]

Reminds me of this video...

You know that is an airshow act right?

 

[wxman1]

You know that is an airshow act right?

Not to derail the thread but if anyone is interested that guy will be at the Ottumwa airshow in a couple weeks. They have a great lineup coming so take the family down!