“Suicidal” Airport Employee Steals & Crashes Empty Plane | WATCH

A 29-year old airport employee described as “suicidal” has crashed an empty plane he stole from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday night.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the man, who was called Rich by air traffic control personnel, is an Alaska Air Horizon employee who allegedly stole the Horizon Air Q400, causing the airport to shut down temporarily Friday night.

“Male is confirmed a suicidal male. Acted alone he is 29-year-old Pierce county residence [sic],” the police said, adding that it was not a “terrorist incident”.

The police suggested that the crash occurred because the man was “doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills.” He crashed the plane near a small island in the Puget Sound in Washington.

The airport, in a tweet Friday night, said:

“An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without permission at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed.”

An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed.

— Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018

In a statement to People, Alaska Airlines said, “We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. We believe there are no passengers on board. More information as we learn more.”

Watch a video of the plane flying shortly before it crashed:

Watch videos of him doing stunts:

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

The air traffic controller who claimed to be Captain Bill tried to steer him from flying over the airport.

“There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile,” Captain Bill said but the man replied “Oh man. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there…. This is probably jail time for life, huh?”

“I’ve got a lot of people that care about me. It’s going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Never really knew it, until now,” the man added.

Captain Bill told him to fly over water to avoid hurting people.

When Captain Bill tried to get him to land the plane, the man said: “I don’t know man. I don’t wanna, I don’t know.”

The man was seen doing some stunts with the plane shortly before it crashed. The man said he is a “white guy”.

Full video form John Waldron on Facebook being shown on CNN #seatac pic.twitter.com/R98bl5uQBr

— Cameron Thomsen (@CameronThomsen) August 11, 2018

Alaska Airlines said no structures on the ground were damaged.

I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. Below are some of the clips. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Here he is realizing how quickly he is burning through fuel. pic.twitter.com/ftnpowm9D4

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Here, the air traffic controller is trying to talk him into landing. pic.twitter.com/OxEe5T6JHJ

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Looks like that didn't upload correctly. Here is the clip of him asking for help getting the cabin pressurized so he isn't "so lightheaded." pic.twitter.com/3uDKPKGvHo

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

This clip appears to be just a fragment of a conversation that was stepped on by other traffic, but he is saying something about "chalking it up" to minimum wage. pic.twitter.com/clkUp69A0D

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

He sounds very emotional here. #seatac pic.twitter.com/eZAuuC5RNa

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

"Nah, I'm a white guy." #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Here, he asks for the coordinates of the mother orca that has been spotted in Puget Sound with her dead calf over the past few weeks. pic.twitter.com/LZmEtrLr8m

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Here he asks about the weather in the nearby Olympic mountains. Thanks to @petersterne for spotting this one. pic.twitter.com/ccmZGpX1vy

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Here someone calling himself captain Bill tries to talk him into landing. #seatac Thanks @jackhauen for finding this. pic.twitter.com/0Ep8DQnhQm

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Here he discusses doing a barrel roll before he tries to land. Thank you @Jk44linebacker for finding this. pic.twitter.com/cdYn7j1Qw2

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

He talks about an engine feeling like it's cutting out. Credit to @jackhauen for finding this. pic.twitter.com/mHKFQ3YXXU

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Talking about watching the sights go by. This one got me. #seatacstolenplane Thank you @petersterne for this. pic.twitter.com/xW6oFCYrYe

— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018

Listent to the full audio on this thread on Twitter.