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The audio recordings of the radio chatter between air traffic control at Sea-Tac International Airport and a reportedly suicidal man who stole an empty Alaska Airlines plane before crashing it into the Puget Sound Friday night were released.
The suspect, previously identified as a 29-year-old airline employee and referred to in the recordings as “Rich” expressed disappointment, calling himself “broken” after he allegedly stole a 76-seat turboprop aircraft.
“I’ve got a lot of people that care about me. It’s going to disappoint them to hear that I did this,” he said. “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.”
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
During the exchange, the alleged hijacker grew concerned about the quickly dropping fuel levels. (RELATED: ‘Suicidal’ Man Steals And Crashes Alaska Airlines Plane)
“I’m down to 2100; I started at like 30-something,” he told the controller. “I don’t know what the burnage [sic], burnout? is like on takeoff, but yeah, it’s burned quite a bit faster than I expected.”
Here he is realizing how quickly he is burning through fuel. pic.twitter.com/ftnpowm9D4
— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018
He also denied assistance with controlling the airplane explaining that he’s “played some video games before.” But he asked for help on how to pressurize the cabin since he was beginning to experience some light-headedness.
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
Air traffic control advised Rich to land the plane at the McChord Field Air Force Base, but he refused saying that he was “not quite ready to bring [the aircraft] down just yet.”
He also commented on the repercussions of hijacking the plane, noting “I would hope it would be [jail time for life] for a guy like me.”
Here, the air traffic controller is trying to talk him into landing. pic.twitter.com/OxEe5T6JHJ
— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018
The man began to get emotional telling the air traffic controller “Damnit Andrew, people’s lives are at stake here!”
“I don’t want to hurt no one,” he continues. “I just want you to whisper sweet nothings into my ear.”
He sounds very emotional here. #seatac pic.twitter.com/eZAuuC5RNa
— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018
During the exchange, Rich talked in jest about the minimum wage and asked for a job as a pilot if he could “land this plane successfully.” The air traffic controller assured the man that he could get any job he wishes if he did, to which Rich self-deprecatingly replied “Yeah right! Nah, I’m a white guy.”
“Nah, I’m a white guy.” #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo
— Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018
Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed just south of Seattle on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. It is unclear whether the plane crashed on its own or if it was shot down. Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the man has not yet been positively identified and will not be until the remains are examined.
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