A Seattle Sea-Tac International Airport employee, identified as a mechanic, flying a stolen Alaska Airlines jet has crashed the plane shortly after it took off on Friday night.

A U.S. Air Force fighter jet intercepted and diverted the plane, reported to be a Horizon Air Q400, from the city before it crashed north of Lakewood, ABC News reported.

The plane, which was said to have no passengers on board, crashed on Ketron Island.

“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 said in a tweet.

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

Alaska Airlines also confirmed the theft in a statement on Twitter.

“We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. We believe there are no passengers on board. More information as we learn more,” it wrote.

We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. We believe there are no passengers on board. More information as we learn more.

— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018

Prior to the crash air traffic controllers were heard talking to the employee, identified as “Rich,” urging him to “’land the plane safely and not hurt anybody.”

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement on the incident but did not confirm any of the details.

“We can’t confirm anything at this time. We’re trying to get accurate information about what is actually going on. Without confirming anything, a stolen aircraft would be a security issue,” it said.

“The FAA is not a security agency, although we work closely with other government agencies on security issues,” it wrote.

Twitter video taken by people on the ground showed the horrifying moments as people witnessed the plane flying low overhead, and some witnessed the crash.

“What the hell,” one woman was heard saying in a video of the low flying plane. “Oh my God what is happening right now?”

“He should never be that low over here,” a man in the video said before asking someone to grab his truck keys and wallet, no doubt in an effort to evacuate.

#BREAKING Alaska Airlines says it is aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This video was taken by a woman who lives south of the airport. She says this is the plane. (Courtney Jensen Junka) pic.twitter.com/Zh3E4aGfSk

— FOX26 News (@KMPHFOX26) August 11, 2018

“That is not a drone that is a prop plane,” a man in another video said before noticing a fighter jet following it.

Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. Weird times. pic.twitter.com/Ra4LcIhwfU

— bmbdgty (@drbmbdgty) August 11, 2018

“Yo I think a plane just crashed into this island right here,” a man said in a video of the aftermath of the crash.

Update
Video moments after the reported stolen Alaska Horizon Q400 crashed near Ketron Island south of Seattle. Fighter jets reportedly tracking the plane.

?@iRVvyBaun pic.twitter.com/xQIQFIj7Ka

— Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) August 11, 2018

Police and Coast Guard are at the site of the crash currently and are assessing the situation.