Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! The Associated Press contributed to this report. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. I don't know, man! Aug. 12, 2018. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. 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. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Please enter valid email address to continue. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane Richard "Beebo" Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane from Sea-Tac Airport on Friday night, performed midair acrobatics over Puget Sound and then crashed into an island, was an. 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 agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". The Sky Thief Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Gone Viral: What "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" Richard Russell, pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane, had lighthearted "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.". 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? Playing What We Want In Seattle! A blog that appeared to belong to Russell as part of a multimedia content creation class at Washington State University focused on his job on a ground service agent.
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.
. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video "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. New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in - YouTube An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the CNN's Kyung Lah reports. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. 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. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. But the friendly tone of a 29-year-old airport worker who stole a commercial plane Friday night, performing acrobatic stunts before a fatal plunge into a thick island forest, belied his desperate actions. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. .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. 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. 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May 25, 2003. 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. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. "I lift a lot of bags. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. 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. / CBS/AP. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. 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. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. 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. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . 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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". Russell, 29 is presumed dead. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. "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. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane, FBI released more information about Russell and the incident, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Video from 2018 shows final moments of Sea-Tac Airport worker - KOMO 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. A Warner Bros. New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. That's just not safe.". He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. I don't need that much help. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. He was killed in the crash. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. 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? ", "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. 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. So many bags," he said. It did not elaborate. You know?". During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. 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. He did not survive the crash. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. 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. July 4, 1986. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. The sky thief Richard Russell captivated the audience's attention after the Authorities at the Port of Seattle released an airport surveillance video of plane stealing. 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. ", 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. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. 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. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Cooper? Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. 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. There were no passengers aboard. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. You did that. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. Video captures Richard Russell doing tricks in stolen Horizon Air plane Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. New video shows crash site of stolen plane 02:22 CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger. 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. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. Never really knew it until now.". 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. . Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM 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. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. 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 don't want to. 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 For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. 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 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. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. Scroll down to continue . 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. Video released to KOMO News from the Port of Seattle capture the final moments of Richard Russell who took a Horizon Air plane from SeaTac Airport without authorization, performed acrobatic. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. They say says this is a complete shock. On his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he said he was from Wasilla, Alaska; lived in Sumner, Washington; and was married in 2012. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. 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. "Oh man. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Richard Russell: Authorities don't believe man who stole Dash-8 Q400 Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Please enter valid email address to continue. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. 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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . In audio recordings released over the internet, Russell can be heard chatting in an upbeat, enthusiastic tone with the air traffic controllers trying to talk him down. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island "Congratulations. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. "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.". Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. So many bags," he said. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. 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. He said he wanted to create projects showing the contrast between his hard work on the ground and his high-flying free time traveling the globe. 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. 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