"He worked his shift yesterday, we believe he was in uniform, his job is to be around airplanes," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island More Videos Next up in 5 As he flew the stolen 76-seat passenger plane above the Seattle area for nearly an hour on Friday night, Richard B. Russell was asked by an air . Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. New footage released by the Port of Seattle shows Mr Russell who worked as a baggage handler at the airport preparing the plane for takeoff. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, FBI probes how airline employee stole plane, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization, push us to learn what we can from this tragedy. Scroll down to continue . "I think I'm going to try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good I'll go nose down and call it a night," Richard Russell said from the cockpit, according to a recording of his conversation with the controller. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. On his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he said he was from Wasilla, Alaska; lived in Sumner, Washington; and was married in 2012. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. The U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is online 24/7 to help you in a time of depression or desperation. Ah, dammit. He was killed in the crash. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". They say says this is a complete shock. Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the cockpit on August 10, 2018. It's unclear exactly what Mr Russell is doing during this time, but he eventually takes control of a pushback tug and readies the Alaska Air plane for takeoff. Sky King (RE-POST with new footage) || The Day an Airline Employee Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island "A couple of the turns, it looked like what we call in basic flight training a 'coordinated turn,' meaning that he not only used the yoke but you also coordinate with the rudders and you do the turns. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. The Seattle FBI office said Sunday that it had recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon plane. Russell took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 7.32pm on Friday and flew, tailed by F-15 Eagle jets, until the plane crashed at 8.47pm into Ketron Island, located 25 miles. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Explained In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. The Pierce County Medical Examiners Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. "He might have been talking to himself in the cockpit," so the voice recorder may provide additional information that wasn't recorded in radio traffic, she said. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent for three and a half years, was the only person aboard the plane, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM On the other hand, Russell was reported to have been profoundly troubled, whereas Malaysian authorities were unable to find any evidence that Shah suffered from mental illness or was undergoing any kind of stress in his life. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. Richard Russell: Authorities don't believe man who stole Dash-8 Q400

An airline employee stole an otherwise unoccupied passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and flew it for an hour with military jets chasing him before crashing in a wooded area 40 miles away.

. Send us an email at [email protected], Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Bank accidentally left unlocked in Fresno, police say, Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Officials: Mother identified as shooter in murder-suicide in Ohio, Court finds Federal Way gun store in contempt of court. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. KINGs Madison Wade reports. Subscribe to NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC Watch more NBC video: http://bit.ly/MoreNBCNewsNBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. Four years ago, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell managed to steal an Alaskan Airlines turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and maintenance area for the night after arriving from Victoria, British Columbia, earlier in the day. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. Marine Corps lance corporal Howard A. Foote, Jr. stole an A-4M Skyhawk ground attack jet from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and took it on a 45-minute aerobatic joyride before returning to base and landing safely. A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, In audio recordings released over the internet, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. Im coming home! But it was not to be. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN Like a lot of bags. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Find flight for cheapWith its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. "We heard the jet because our windows were down while we were waiting in the ferry line to go to Anderson Island, which is adjacent to Ketron Island.". He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane, FBI released more information about Russell and the incident, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee - CNN He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". August 22, 1979. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. It evens out in the end.". Now, nearly four years after the event, authorities have released new video footage showing how 28-year-old Russell who went by the nickname "Beebo" got through. I hope they can make it through this.". If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! I don't know! That includes both domestic and international flights. Worker who stole plane and crashed identified, See stolen plane flying moments before crash, Co-worker of man who stole plane speaks out, Official: Man taxied plane before stealing it, Airline worker's family releases statement, Airline issues statement after Seattle crash, Witness: Thought Air Force was practicing for show. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "But the air traffic controller had to tell him how to set what they call the 'bugs' -- they're just little, sort of, little levers, or little notches on your indicator for your heading, which is kind of basic. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. May 25, 2003. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. "I lift a lot of bags. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. The job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Please enter valid email address to continue. Now, nearly four years after the event, authorities have released new video footage showing how 28-year-old Russell who went by the nickname Beebo got through the airport and into the 76-seat plane that he flew to his death. I don't know, man! Video released to KOMO News from the Port of Seattle capture the final moments of Richard Russell who took a Horizon Air plane from SeaTac Airport without authorization, performed acrobatic. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, Sudden FAA Failure Grounds U.S. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Within minutes of the plane's takeoff, the military scrambled two armed F-15 jets from Oregon to follow it, according to local and airline authorities and two sources with knowledge of the situation. Some speculated the plane was stolen as part of an insurance scam, or perhaps taken by terrorists who planned to use it as a flying bomb, but the truth remains unknown. The reason I left is in February of 2016 they were short staffed and they had me run three planes in the same time, Reeves said. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com Indeed, in transcripts of his conversation with air-traffic control as he zig-zags the stolen plane through the airspace above the 15th-largest city in the U.S. (some of which can be heard in the video above), Russells demeanor goes from awestruck, to giddy, to fearful, to guilty, as he seems to process in real-time the weight of what hes done, and the unlikelihood that hell survive. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. July 4, 1986. Its not yet known exactly what pre-existing psychological conditions Russell may have had, but in the course of his conversation with air traffic controllers he expresses racial resentment. A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. What happened from then, left a. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. The Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the . KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Playing What We Want In Seattle! KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Who was Richard Russell? One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. The 76-seat Horizon Air turboprop plane took off without authorization at 7:32 p.m. local time Friday, with Russell, who was not a pilot, at the controls, officials said. New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island appreciated. He was in the air for about an hour. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Because there were no passengers or crew aboard the plane, it wasnt considered a hijacking, and authorities response to the event seems to indicate that nobody ever expected an airport employee to hop in a plane and go for a ride with no apparent intent to terrorize, kill, or even make a greater statement. 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I've played some video games before, he said. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. NORAD scrambled two F-15 to try to shepherd Russell away from populated areas of Seattle, but at 8:46 PM, Russell crashed the plane into an uninhabited part of Ketron Island in Puget Sound. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well About to take off. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . You know?". By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. July 13, 1994. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there," the man responded, later adding, "This is probably jail time for life, huh? You did that. But the friendly tone of a 29-year-old airport worker who stole a commercial plane Friday night, performing acrobatic stunts before a fatal plunge into a thick island forest, belied his desperate actions. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. The sky thief Richard Russell captivated the audience's attention after the Authorities at the Port of Seattle released an airport surveillance video of plane stealing. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me, and it's going to disappoint them to hear that I did this," Russell says. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik That includes both domestic and international flights. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on "Last night's event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline," Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, told a news conference Saturday. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". It seemed like such miserable work and I never could imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to all the constant noise, gas fumes, and heavy lifting. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. According to his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he was from Wasilla, Alaska, and lived in Sumner, Washington, and was married in 2012. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. They said it's clear Russell didn't intend to harm anyone, and "he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. All Rights Reserved. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. A beautifully-written Rolling Stone article published in summer of 2021 tells the story of Russells life up to the moment he towed the plane onto the runway and hopped in the cockpit, attempting to find meaning or motive to help explain why this goofy, God-fearing baggage handler decided to steal a plane he likely knew he couldnt successfully land.