You know?". That includes both domestic and international flights. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Ah, dammit. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! "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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. "There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile," the controller says, reffering to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. Lastly, we've been reporting a lot only on the most famous case of suspected pilot suicide, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, and this weekend's tragedy bears at least a few similarities. "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. Did you encounter any technical issues? He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Richard "Beebo" Russell (Screenshot from YouTube via AP) SEATTLE - The Horizon Air baggage handler who stole a commercial airplane from Sea-Tac Airport and took it for a 73-minute joy ride . Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . The NTSB is now processing the equipment. "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. 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. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM "The FBI is going to be thorough, which means taking the time needed to scour the area, delve into the background of the individual believed responsible for Friday night's incident, and review every aspect with all appropriate public and private partners," the FBI's Seattle office tweeted Saturday afternoon. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. CCTV Footage Shows Baggage Handler Stealing Plane, Crashes On Island - TMZ We may earn commission if you buy from a link. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. The newly published video, coupled with Rolling Stones detailed reconstruction of the events of August 10, 2018, paint the picture of a cheerful, gregarious fellow. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. Others include how, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attack, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia 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. 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. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. "I never thought I would work as a Ground Service Agent (GSA) for an Airlines company," he wrote in a blog post in September 2017. I've played some video games before, he said. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. 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. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! So many bags," he said. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The FBI released the findings of its investigation earlier this week, concluding 28-year-old ramp agent Richard Russell, also known as Bebo, stole the Horizon airplane and intentionally crashed it into the south end of Ketron Island. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com 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. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. A blog that appeared to belong to Russell as part of a multimedia content creation class at Washington State University focused on his job on a ground service agent. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. Scroll down to continue . His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. He said he wanted to create projects showing the contrast between his hard work on the ground and his high-flying free time traveling the globe. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. among other things. 7 months ago. 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. 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. 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. SEATAC, Wash. - It was a shocking scene above the Puget Sound, as Horizon Airlines employee Richard Russell stole and flew a turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport while air traffic tried to talk him . We may earn a commission from links on this page. 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. In the days leading up to the theft and subsequent crash, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong with him, investigators wrote in the updated report. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. "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. They said it's not clear whether he had ever taken flight lessons or used flight simulators, or where he gained the skills to take off. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. He did not survive the crash. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. All Rights Reserved. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. "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.". 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. Newly-obtained surveillance video from 2018 shows how Richard Russell, then a Horizon Ground service agent with no pilot experience, successfully stole the plane before crashing to his death. It did not elaborate. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. I hope they can make it through this.". 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 . Newly released CCTV footage shows airport employee Richard Russell stealing an Alaska Airlines plane before fatally crashing it into a Washington island, the New York Post reports . Russell was "tow certified" and had full security access, and had been with the company for three and a half years, CBS News' Jamie Yuccas reports. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. Who Was Richard Russell? Man Steals Airplane and Crashes | Time 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. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. 2023 Cox Media Group. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. Mr Russell was at times jovial at one point he assured SeaTac's tower that he didn't need help controlling the airplane because he had played some video games and questioned if it could do a backflip and was at others melancholic. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". Please enter valid email address to continue. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? 2. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. "I lift a lot of bags. The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. 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. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was killed when. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. 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? He managed to proceed with his plan unmolested largely because no one thought twice about the baggage handler working in the airport's restricted spaces. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. About to take off. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. Security footage shows man stealing plane he later crashed into a The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Sunday that Russell had died in the fiery wreckage, but whether the crash was deliberate or accidental was one of several topics remaining for investigators. He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was a flight-sim enthusiast who is known to have taken a simulated flight path similar to the one authorities believe the plane ultimately took into the southern Indian Ocean. 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. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Details of man who sources say stole airplane from Sea-Tac, Officials: Man who stole plane, died in crash not a pilot, Woman faces decades in prison after lying about murder, Do you have an investigative story tip? 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. I don't know! Potential targets included tens of thousands of fans assembling at Safeco Field, about 12 miles away, for a sold-out Pearl Jam concert just as he took off. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane What followed was a 73-minute joyride during which Richard Beebo Russell had a surprisingly candid conversation with air-traffic controllers as he pushed the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-engine plane through some daring acrobatic moves. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Please enter valid email address to continue. Data from the flight data recorder showed there was a significant sideslip on the airplane during the last minute of the flight, but the airplane appeared to stay in control, according to the FBI report. So many bags," he said. ", Referring to audio recordings of Russell talking to air traffic control during his hour-long flight, the statement said his "intent was not to harm anyone. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . Foote was an experienced glider pilot and had undergone 100 hours of simulator flying in the Skyhawk and had hoped to become a military pilot before his ambitions were derailed by health issues. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend.
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.
. 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. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle, Washington, and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight,. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. It's Troublingly Common for Ground Crew Members To Steal Planes Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. He was immediately killed. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. 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. Amazingly, despite the unprecedented nature of this deadly feat, and the fact that it could have easily become a mass casualty event, Russells flight and fatal crash seemed to hardly make a splash in the national news. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. I don't want to. Investigators said Richard Russell worked alone when he was working as a ground service agent for the airline, and that he towed the turboprop out a hanger, climbed into the cockpit, and took off. 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. Onlooker John Waldron took video that shows the plane rolling inverted at low altitude, then pulling into a half-loop in a aerobatic high-g maneuver called a split S. Whether through skill or luck, Russell managed to pull the plane out of its rapid descent just above the wave tops. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. 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 . The Associated Press contributed to this report. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Richard Russell: Authorities don't believe man who stole Dash-8 Q400 Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much / CBS/AP. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Explained Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. New surveillance. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video Airline and Seattle airport officials revealed the following at a news conference Saturday: In audio recordings of the incident posted on Broadcastify, Russell can be heard talking to air traffic controllers as they try to guide him to land the plane. The theft illustrated what aviation experts have long known: One of the biggest potential perils for commercial air travel is airline or airport employees causing mayhem. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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Russell, 29 is presumed dead. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Richard "Beebo" Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane from Sea-Tac Airport on Friday night, performed midair acrobatics over Puget Sound and then crashed into an island, was an. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. They say says this is a complete shock. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. Ben Charles Padilla, an aircraft mechanic who held a private pilots license and was a certified flight engineer, was repairing a 727 airliner in Luanda, Angola for a Florida-based company named Aerospace Sales and Leasing. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. "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. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. The body camera and cell phone video shows firefighters climbing through dense brush and fallen trees to get to the crash site on Ketron Island. Video from a witness on the ground shows the plane at one point pulling up for a loop, putting the aircraft upside-down and then pulling back up just feet above a body of water. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. A Warner Bros. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! 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. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Family of man who stole, crashed plane 'stunned' - KJRH Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. Aug. 12, 2018. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM As a flight controller tried to persuade him to land, he wondered aloud about whether he had enough fuel to make it to the Olympics, talked of the beautiful view, and said he had a lot of people who cared about him, apologizing for what he was doing.