Unauthorised take-off of plane near Seattle

Seattle: Airport officials say an airline employee conducted an unauthorised takeoff in Washington state and crashed.

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

Unconfirmed reports suggest a mechanic piloted the plane and conducted a series of stunts until he lost control of the aircraft.

A plume of smoke was seen rising near Ketron Island, Washington, in the south Puget Sound, the waterway near Seattle.