Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. 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. I hope they can make it through this.". Aug. 12, 2018. Cooper? 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". "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. 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. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. He was immediately killed. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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.
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.
. 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. 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. "Oh man. Russell, who was a ground services employee for Horizon Air, sat in the plane's cockpit for nearly an hour and a half before the unauthorized takeoff. 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? Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. "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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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. 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. 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. 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. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. He did not survive the crash. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 7 months ago. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. .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. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Please enter valid email address to continue. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. I don't need that much help. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. 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. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. . Discovery Company. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". It was one of the strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018: A baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport moseyed onto the tarmac, hopped in an unoccupied Horizon Air passenger plane, taxied to an empty runway, and took off. 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. 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. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. 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 . He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. 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, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. 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. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. among other things. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. They say says this is a complete shock. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. 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. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. New surveillance. 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. 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. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. 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. "If you're going to access the aircraft you make sure that you check with someone else, and that someone else (will confirm) that you have the right authority to get onto that aircraft.". In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. Every time I traveled I would look out my plane window and see these sullen looking individuals leisurely pacing around, or hectically throwing bags into a cart. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images May 25, 2003. All Rights Reserved. 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. "Here we have an employee who was vetted to the level to have access to the aircraft and had a skill set proficient enough to take off with that plane.". Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! 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. Richard Russell Posted a Video on YouTube About Being a Baggage Handler Play VideoVideo related to richard russell, 'rich': 5 fast facts you need to know 2018-08-11T15:04:15-04:00 In a. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". I don't want to. 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. 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. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. 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. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. He was killed in the crash. 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. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. August 22, 1979. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. July 4, 1986. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. I don't know! The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. 2. 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. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. Investigators "did not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology," according to a summary of the FBI report. NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Investigators work to determine how a man was able to pilot a stolen plane. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. There were no passengers aboard. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. You did that. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. 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. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. 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. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. The Port of Seattle just released the CCTV footage of 29-year-old Richard Russell towing the Alaska Airlines' Q400 Turboprop into position back in 2018 at the Seattle-Tacoma International. "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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? What happened from then, left a. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. "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. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. At one point he asks the controller, Hey, do you think if I land this successfully, Alaska [Horizon Airs parent company, Alaska Airllines] will give me a job as a pilot? Told, You know, I think they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off, Russell replies, Yeah right! "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. 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. Newly-released videos from the Port of Seattle show the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane nearly four years ago. 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. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. A Warner Bros. I've played some video games before, he said. He was in the air for about an hour. On Friday, Horizon Air ground service agent .css-3wjtm9{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#1c6a65;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-3wjtm9:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Richard B. Russell got in one of the airlines Bombardier Q400 aircraft and took off from Seattles SeaTac Airport. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Investigators headed Saturday to the crash site to recover the plane's data recorders and Russell's remains as part of a criminal probe, authorities said. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM 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. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. 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. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. The photos provided some of the most compelling images: tree trunks sheared in half by the impact of the crash and parts of the Horizon Air Q400 Turboprop littered throughout the debris field. 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. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Like a lot of bags. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! 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. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. 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. You know?". 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. It evens out in the end.". ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. 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 . He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. . 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. He was immediately killed. Winter Weather Advisory expires for much of western Washington, Intertribal comedy sketch troupe performs 'Between Two Knees' at Seattle Rep, plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed, Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin, released the findings of its investigation, Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport, 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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. "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. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what?