US F-15 Jets Intercept Stolen Passenger Plane

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US National Guard fighter jets based in Oregon were scrambled following reports that a passenger plane had been hijacked from Sea-Tac, the largest commercial airport in the Pacific Northwest.

The plane's operator, Horizon Air, said the Q400 was undergoing maintenance and not scheduled for a passenger flight when it was stolen.

Horizon Air is part of Alaska Air Group and flies short routes throughout the US West. The Bombardier Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. There were no passengers on the aircraft when it took off.

Authorities initially said the pilot was a mechanic, but Alaska Airlines later said he was believed to be a ground service agent employed by Horizon.

Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department, said on Twitter the man was suicidal and there was no connection to terrorism.

He said F-15 aircraft scrambled out of Portland, Oregon, and were in the air "within a few minutes" and the pilots kept "people on the ground safe".

Video showed the Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous stunts.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane being chased by military aircraft before it crashed in woods on Ketron Island, south west of Tacoma, Washington.

Air Traffic Controllers were heard trying to convince the pilot to land the plane. Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor said the man "did something foolish and may well have paid with his life".