11 Aug 2018 | 05:40 AM UTC
US: Police rule out terrorism in plane crash near Seattle August 10 /update 1
Local police rule out terrorism as motive for airline employee stealing and crashing aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA); investigation ongoing
Event
Officials from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department announced on Friday, August 10, that the crash involving a stolen plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was not a terrorist incident. According to federal aviation sources, a ground employee stole the empty plane from SEA before crashing it on Ketron Island, southwest of Tacoma. The North American Aerospace Defense Command deployed fighter jets to accompany the plane as it flew away from Seattle but were not involved in the crash. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Residual delays are possible at SEA in the coming hours.
Context
Ground operations were temporarily halted at SEA at approximately 21:00 (local time) before resuming to normal at 21:30.
Advice
Travelers flying to or from SEA are advised to confirm the status of their flights and to contact their airline for additional information.
