The other day, the incident involving a Horizon Air employee stealing an aircraft and crashing it caught my attention. Here are some related reports:

US aircraft stolen and crashed, authorities have not released the identity of the thief

An aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the US took off without permission. The aircraft has crashed after being intercepted and tracked by fighter jets. According to US sources, there were no passengers on board at the time.

According to the official Twitter of Tacoma Airport, an airline employee took off in an unoccupied aircraft without permission. The aircraft crashed in the southern part of the local Puget Sound.

US investigates crash involving airline employee stealing aircraft

The *Seattle Times* confirmed from different sources that the perpetrator was 29-year-old Richard Russell; the motive is unclear. But other reports suggest Russell had suicidal tendencies.

Local experts believe this incident indicates that employee issues are one of the major risks currently facing the aviation industry. Latest statistics show the US aviation industry has about 900,000 employees, and the screening procedures they undergo are “very simple.” While pilots undergo regular medical exams, the scope of medical exams for airline ground crew is very limited, often excluding mental health checks.

LISTEN: Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport The webpage above allows you to hear the dialogue between the hijacker and Air Traffic Control:

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: "We're just trying a find a place for you to land safely."

COCKPIT AUDIO: “Yeah, not quite ready to bring it down just yet, but holy smokes, I gotta stop looking at the fuel ‘cuz it’s going down quick.”

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: “If you could, could you start a left-hand turn and we’ll take you down to the southeast, please.”

COCKPIT AUDIO: “This is probably, uh, like jail time for life, huh? I mean, I would hope it is. For a guy like me.”

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: “Right now, he’s just flying around. And, he just needs some help controlling his aircraft.”

COCKPIT AUDIO: “No, I mean, I don’t need that much help. I’ve played some video games before. I would like to figure out how to get this cabin altitude… like, I know where the box is… I would like to get some, uh, make it pressurized or something so I’m not so light-headed.”

A ground crew member without a pilot’s license was actually able to fly the aircraft for over an hour. Just as he said, “I’ve played some video games before.” He must have practiced on flight simulation software at home.

The investigation results of this incident will definitely take a long time to come out, However, it brings to mind two similar crash incidents, as well as that perennial topic: “Can a non-pilot fly a plane?”

One is the Self-Defense Force aircraft theft incident involving the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Around 9:00 PM on June 23, 1973, An LM-1 liaison plane suddenly took off from the Runway of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force North Utsunomiya Camp (Utsunomiya Airport: RJTU) in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. It was night time, and the control tower was closed, causing a huge commotion.

An internal investigation revealed that a JGSDF Sergeant 3rd Class (aged 20 at the time), belonging to the Aviation School Utsunomiya Branch (now Utsunomiya School) stationed at the camp, had gone missing after drinking alcohol.

The aircraft was witnessed taking off towards the south, but it was not captured on radar, and it is presumed to have been flying at a considerably low altitude. Whether he didn’t know how to use the radio, or intentionally refused to respond is unclear, but he did not respond to calls, and after the 5 hours and 20 minutes worth of fuel (range 1,300 km) loaded on the aircraft ran out, it is believed to have crashed.

The general idea in Chinese is that around 9 PM on June 23, 1973, An LM-1 aircraft at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Utsunomiya Airport suddenly took off. It was night and the Tower was closed, causing chaos at the airport. An investigation revealed that a 20-year-old mechanic went missing after getting drunk. At the time, the aircraft was flying at low altitude and was never detected by radar. Furthermore, there was no response to radio communication calls. After searching for over a month without finding the wreckage, the case was closed. It is estimated that after the aircraft ran out of fuel, it crashed into an unknown location.

Another is the [1979] Failed Incident of Xijiao Airport Mechanic Stealing Trident to Crash into Beijing:

On March 14, 1979, Wang Qi, an air mechanic from Shanxi belonging to the 100th Regiment of the 34th Air Division, had received a warning penalty for violating discipline. On the 14th, utilizing the annual major inspection at Xijiao Airport, He boarded Trident aircraft No. 274 under the pretext of inspecting the aircraft. At 9 AM, he started the engines, taxied onto the Runway, advanced the throttle, and took off.

After reaching 80 meters, having failed to master turning technique, the aircraft Stalled and crashed into the ground 2,500 meters south of the Runway and exploded, destroying part of the factory building of the Beijing Installation Company’s cement prefabrication processing plant, causing the deaths of 22 employees and injuries to 23, along with the death of Wang Qi himself.

Regarding this Trident accident, English information also exists, such as on the Aviation Safety Network

Date: Wednesday 14 March 1979 Time: ca 08:52 Type: Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident 2E Operator: CAAC Registration: B-274 C/n / msn: 2172 First flight: 1976 Engines: 3 Rolls-Royce Spey 512 Crew: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Total: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 Ground casualties: Fatalities: 32 Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: Beijing ( China) Phase: Initial climb (ICL) Nature: Training Departure airport: Beijing-Xijiao Airport, China Narrative: Crashed into a factory on climbout.

Additionally, on the Wikipedia page for the Trident, it is also mentioned:

On 14 March 1979, a CAAC Airlines Trident 2E registered B-274, crashed into a factory near Beijing, injuring at least 200. The crash was caused by an unqualified pilot who stole and flew the airliner.[67] All 12 people on board were killed, as well as 32 people on the ground.

It is worth noting that English sources mention 12 people on board, whereas the Chinese source above states there was only one person.

So, as you can see, if one is not a pilot, even if they are a ground crew member very familiar with the aircraft interior, even if they can get the plane airborne, without the skills for Level Flight and landing, ultimately they cannot escape the fate of destruction and death.

There is also the N844AA aircraft disappearance incident,

The N844AA disappearance incident refers to the event on May 25, 2003, when a Boeing 727-223 parked at Luanda February 4th International Airport suddenly took off without permission and disappeared. The registration number of the missing aircraft is N844AA. The US State Department, CIA, and several African nations launched investigations, but there were no results. US authorities claimed the aircraft was being controlled by Ben Charles Padilla at the time of disappearance. Ben Charles Padilla, born in 1952 in Pensacola, Florida, was an FAA-certified mechanic, flight engineer, and small aircraft pilot. Two months before the aircraft disappeared, he was assigned by Aerospace Sales & Leasing to go to Luanda to manage the modification of N844AA. The aircraft has never appeared since, nor has there been any sign of a crash.

This might be one of the successful cases of aircraft theft, because the mechanic held a pilot’s license. However, due to the lack of any evidence, perhaps the fate of this Boeing 727 will also remain a permanent mystery like the MH370 incident.

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