Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 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. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Richard Russell, pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane, had lighthearted After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. "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.". The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. He was in the air for about an hour. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. He did not survive the crash. appreciated. 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 . "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane before fatal "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 When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik 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. 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 was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. 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. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Please enter valid email address to continue. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details.

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.

. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. 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. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 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. 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. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Explained ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. . 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. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Like a lot of bags. 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. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. among other things. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. "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. Never really knew it until now.". Aug. 12, 2018. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. That includes both domestic and international flights. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. 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. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. July 13, 1994. New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island he joked. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. I don't know! Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee - CNN Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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. 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. 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. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. 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. I don't need that much help. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. It's unclear exactly what Mr Russell is doing during this time, but he eventually takes control of a pushback tug and readies the Alaska Air plane for takeoff. 7 months ago. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. It evens out in the end.". 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. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash 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. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. 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. So many bags," he said. Video from 2018 shows final moments of Sea-Tac Airport worker - KOMO strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. ", 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. That's just not safe.". "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he 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. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. They say says this is a complete shock. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". 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. 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. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. About to take off. 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,. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in - YouTube First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. 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. "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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. / CBS/AP. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. 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. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, FBI probes how airline employee stole plane, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization, push us to learn what we can from this tragedy. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He was killed in the crash. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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. 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. 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. 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? The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. "I lift a lot of bags. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. New surveillance. Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know / CBS/AP. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. 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. 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. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. 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. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. So many bags," he said. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane

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