31–40 of 213 posts
Surprising it has taken decades for someone to try this. At least we don't have to wait on delayed planes while the pilot tracks down the key...
It last happened 7 years ago. From the article:
> Colton Harris-Moore, nicknamed the Barefoot Bandit, was sentenced in 2011 for stealing small planes, which he had learned to fly himself as a teenager after reading flight manuals.
> "Mr. Russell...had worked his shift on Friday." So glad they told us this important fact. I wonder if his final direct deposit (to his estate) will include that days' pay or if it will count as a vacation day? Has the news always been this inane?
> Mr. Russell stole a plane from the airport and flew it for about an hour before it crashed. (emphasis mine) Wonder why Air National Guard's scrambled F-15s [0] didn't engage and bring the plane down before the individual commandeering the prop -- Mr. Russell -- brought the aircraft down with himself in the Ketron Island. IIRC, the plane flew over several densely populated areas before going down, and I can imagine…
My uninformed guess is that the F-15 were scrambled to intercept if the plane started heading towards Bangor, Bremerton shipyards or JBLM. Lots of military bases and critical infra up in the PNW, thankfully it didn't appear to be the case in this incident.
> Mr. Russell stole a plane from the airport and flew it for about an hour before it crashed. (emphasis mine) Wonder why Air National Guard's scrambled F-15s [0] didn't engage and bring the plane down before the individual commandeering the prop -- Mr. Russell -- brought the aircraft down with himself in the Ketron Island. IIRC, the plane flew over several densely populated areas before going down, and I can imagine…
And to think, even if they decided to take him down, it would have likely been over a populated area. Unless they disintegrated it with missiles while in the sky, it likely would have ended in a catastrophe. The decision to not take the plan out as soon as they had the chance to safely was interesting. Their lack of action could have resulted in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands of people. Interestingly enough…
And even then I imagine the raining shrapnel (likely burning too) would cause plenty of chaos itself.
The outcome of this was probably near the best (the best being the guy managing to land the plane safely and survive) --- it could've been much much worse.
Surprising it has taken decades for someone to try this. At least we don't have to wait on delayed planes while the pilot tracks down the key...
It's not like the engine start procedure on one of those things is a turnkey solution. The amount of domain knowledge needed serves as a form of soft security.
[0] https://flyuk.aero/assets/downloads/resources/checklists/UKV...
> Mr. Russell stole a plane from the airport and flew it for about an hour before it crashed. (emphasis mine) Wonder why Air National Guard's scrambled F-15s [0] didn't engage and bring the plane down before the individual commandeering the prop -- Mr. Russell -- brought the aircraft down with himself in the Ketron Island. IIRC, the plane flew over several densely populated areas before going down, and I can imagine…
Listen to the recording of ATC personnel talking to the rogue pilot. He's just a normal guy with a few screws loose. I think they correctly assessed this man to be non-threatening to ground targets. Now, if the guy was non-responsive or erratic or started making threats, I do expect that the F15s might have been used.
> Mr. Russell stole a plane from the airport and flew it for about an hour before it crashed. (emphasis mine) Wonder why Air National Guard's scrambled F-15s [0] didn't engage and bring the plane down before the individual commandeering the prop -- Mr. Russell -- brought the aircraft down with himself in the Ketron Island. IIRC, the plane flew over several densely populated areas before going down, and I can imagine…
And to think, even if they decided to take him down, it would have likely been over a populated area. Unless they disintegrated it with missiles while in the sky, it likely would have ended in a catastrophe. The decision to not take the plan out as soon as they had the chance to safely was interesting. Their lack of action could have resulted in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands of people. Interestingly enough…
Tex Johnston for one:
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Bombardier Q400 can seat 80 people and weighs 40,000 lbs empty.
Which is about half of the weight of a loaded 18 wheeler.
> Mr. Russell stole a plane from the airport and flew it for about an hour before it crashed. (emphasis mine) Wonder why Air National Guard's scrambled F-15s [0] didn't engage and bring the plane down before the individual commandeering the prop -- Mr. Russell -- brought the aircraft down with himself in the Ketron Island. IIRC, the plane flew over several densely populated areas before going down, and I can imagine…
Listen to the recording of ATC personnel talking to the rogue pilot. He's just a normal guy with a few screws loose. I think they correctly assessed this man to be non-threatening to ground targets. Now, if the guy was non-responsive or erratic or started making threats, I do expect that the F15s might have been used.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Which is about half of the weight of a loaded 18 wheeler.
Said 18 wheeler isn't traveling 130mph :)
11,000 gallons of gas in a tanker truck = 33 kwh * 11,000 gallons = 1,306,800,000,000 joules
FWIW, I'd be up for reviewing the systems, but let's not over react.
P.S. Feel free to correct my math if I was off the mark.