CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Ah, dammit. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. ", "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. 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. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. 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. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. Video from 2018 shows final moments of Sea-Tac Airport worker - KOMO The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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 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. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. I hope they can make it through this.". He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. 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. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. "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. 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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 Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. 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. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. 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. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. 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. "Oh man. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. 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. 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. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN 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. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". August 22, 1979. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials 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. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. The Sky Thief Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Gone Viral: What As the FBI investigation wrapped up earlier this week, West Pierce Fire and Rescue released some of the first footage from the scene through public disclosure. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. 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. Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well 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. That's just not safe.". Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. .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. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! The Associated Press contributed to this report. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". "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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . "Never really knew it till now," he said. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com 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,. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images 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. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. 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. Like a lot of bags. 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. Im coming home! But it was not to be. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. CCTV Footage Shows Baggage Handler Stealing Plane, Crashes On Island - TMZ The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Video captures Richard Russell doing tricks in stolen Horizon Air plane He was immediately killed. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. 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. New surveillance. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. "In this plane, he certainly knew how to retract the landing gear, he coordinated both engines, powered them up to get a coordinated takeoff," she said. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. "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 black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. There were no passengers aboard. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. He was killed in the crash. I've played some video games before, he said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM The FBI has recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon aircraft that crashed onto Ketron Island Friday night. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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! 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. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. 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. 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. Like a lot of bags. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound.
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.
. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. 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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. 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. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. 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 . Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. 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. 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. Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com, 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. "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.". Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. 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. New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in - YouTube May 23, 1969. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. "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. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. 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. You did that. 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." 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 FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. 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 . His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. New video released Wednesday shows what first responders found after a plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on a south Puget Sound island last August. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. All rights reserved. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said.