Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. 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. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. 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. 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. "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 footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. "Congratulations. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. among other things. Aug. 12, 2018. 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! "Oh man. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. 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 . The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. 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? "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "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.". 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. He was in the air for about an hour. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". We may earn commission if you buy from a link. July 4, 1986. 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. 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. New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Ah, dammit. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. "I lift a lot of bags. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. 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. Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee - CNN In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. 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. 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. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Explained He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Discovery Company. . Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. He was killed in the crash. Playing What We Want In Seattle! Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Family of man who stole, crashed plane 'stunned' - KJRH Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Never really knew it until now.". Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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,. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen 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. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. 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. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. 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 . So many bags," he said. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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.". 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. 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. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash All Rights Reserved. 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. A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. 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. 7 months ago. 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. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. "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. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. That includes both domestic and international flights. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. 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. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. "I think I'm going to try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good I'll go nose down and call it a night," Richard Russell said from the cockpit, according to a recording of his conversation with the controller. He did not survive the crash. July 13, 1994. 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. All rights reserved. I don't want to. 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? Richard Russell, pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane, had lighthearted Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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. It did not elaborate. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the That includes both domestic and international flights. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash 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. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . "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. 2. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. CCTV Footage Shows Baggage Handler Stealing Plane, Crashes On Island - TMZ He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. 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. "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. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. "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. 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 This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Like a lot of bags. 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. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. he joked. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Video from 2018 shows final moments of Sea-Tac Airport worker - KOMO "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in - YouTube "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. 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. 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. Video captures Richard Russell doing tricks in stolen Horizon Air plane The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! 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. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM He was immediately killed. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident 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 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. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. 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.