He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 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. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. appreciated. 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. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. "I lift a lot of bags. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . 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. 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. 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. 2. 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. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. Marine Corps lance corporal Howard A. Foote, Jr. stole an A-4M Skyhawk ground attack jet from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and took it on a 45-minute aerobatic joyride before returning to base and landing safely. 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. 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. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. All rights reserved. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. 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 tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. Like 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. Aug. 12, 2018. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. among other things. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Oh man. 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 plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. "There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile," the controller says, reffering to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! [deleted] 5 yr. ago. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. 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. MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was a flight-sim enthusiast who is known to have taken a simulated flight path similar to the one authorities believe the plane ultimately took into the southern Indian Ocean. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. 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. 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. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. "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. 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. "He worked his shift yesterday, we believe he was in uniform, his job is to be around airplanes," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. "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. 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. 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. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. May 23, 1969. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. 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 . Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. 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. "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.". August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Who was Richard Russell? The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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. Playing What We Want In Seattle! In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." 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. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. 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. Potential targets included tens of thousands of fans assembling at Safeco Field, about 12 miles away, for a sold-out Pearl Jam concert just as he took off. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! I hope they can make it through this.". In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. 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. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. ", 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. 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. 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. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 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. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. What happened from then, left a. 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. 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. 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. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. Did you encounter any technical issues? Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. 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. May 25, 2003.
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.
. 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 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. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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 . There were no passengers aboard. 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. "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. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. 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 The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. 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. 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 . SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. Never really knew it until now.". Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. 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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. 2023 Cox Media Group. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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? Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. 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. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. 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. 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. 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. Cooper? Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "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. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. 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. 7 months ago. That's just not safe.". But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. You know?". Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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 . Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. August 22, 1979. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. 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. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". I don't want to. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. That includes both domestic and international flights. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. 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?Fairstead Leadership Team,
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