A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. . 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. "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.". 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. He was immediately killed. 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. 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. 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. New video shows the crash site and blogging made by Richard Russell, the airline worker who stole and crashed a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. "I lift a lot of bags. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 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. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM 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 . Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. So many bags," he said. I hope they can make it through this.". In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. 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 he crashed 25 miles away. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a 'compassionate' man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash By Alex Horton August 13, 2018 at 8:01 a.m. EDT A Horizon Air employee described as. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. It's Troublingly Common for Ground Crew Members To Steal Planes Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. Playing What We Want In Seattle! That includes both domestic and international flights. "Our hearts are with the families of the individual aboard as well as all of our Alaska Air and Horizon Air employees," said Constance von Muehlen, the airline's chief operating officer. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. 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. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane The NTSB is now processing the equipment. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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? Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. Russell is then seen walking into a restricted area meant for baggage handlers, getting onto a tarmac tow vehicle, and dragging the plane he was set to steal onto the runway. 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. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". 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, Officials say man who stole plane was suicidal. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. 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. appreciated. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". 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. July 4, 1986. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. "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. 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. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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.". The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. He was immediately killed. 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. "Congratulations. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. Nah, Im a white guy.. 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? [deleted] 5 yr. ago. Scroll down to continue . Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. May 23, 1969. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. 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 . Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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,. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". ", "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. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. 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. 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. He did not survive the crash. The whole saga took place late on a Friday night in the west-coast time zone; by Monday morning, the constant news churn of the middle years of the Trump presidency seemed to have pushed any follow-up coverage of the Horizon Air crash out of the headlines. 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. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". The Associated Press contributed to this report. Late Friday, a Horizon Air employee believed to be Russell stole an empty turboprop plane, took off from SeaTac and crashed on Ketron Island, a small island in the Puget Sound that is home to about two dozen residents. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . A fter 29-year-old airline employee Richard B. Russell stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday night and crashed it into Ketron Island in Puget Sound, questions remain. Recently fired airline mechanic Armando Nieto Jaramillo, 23, stole a military HS-748 transport plane from Bogot-Eldorado Airport and crashed it soon after takeoff, killing himself and three people on 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. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, On the day of his tragic flight, Mr Russell wore a shirt that said The Sky is No Limit, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Air Traffic Control audio reveals conversation with man who stole Alaska Airlines plane. You did that. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. 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. 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. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. 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. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN 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. 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. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. 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 plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the 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. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. 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. Like a lot of bags. May 25, 2003. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Siddiq Saunderson Moved to L.A. and Immediately Bought a Prius, Millennials and Zillennials Can't Get Enough of Manual Transmissions, Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus (Lifetime Subscription), Tesla Investor Day 2023 Was Pretty Great if You Ignored Elon. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.Connect with NBC News Online!NBC News App: https://smart.link/5d0cd9df61b80Breaking News Alerts: https://link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/breaking-news-signup?cid=sm_npd_nn_yt_bn-clip_190621Visit NBCNews.Com: http://nbcnews.to/ReadNBCFind NBC News on Facebook: http://nbcnews.to/LikeNBCFollow NBC News on Twitter: http://nbcnews.to/FollowNBC#Surveillance #Horizonair #hijacking By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. Did you encounter any technical issues? Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. among other things. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Please enter valid email address to continue. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. New video shows crash site of stolen plane 02:22 CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. 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. He was in the air for about an hour. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. 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. You know?".
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