It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. I've played some video games before, he said. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Cooper? 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. That's just not safe.". Ah, dammit. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. Discovery Company. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. Indeed, in transcripts of his conversation with air-traffic control as he zig-zags the stolen plane through the airspace above the 15th-largest city in the U.S. (some of which can be heard in the video above), Russells demeanor goes from awestruck, to giddy, to fearful, to guilty, as he seems to process in real-time the weight of what hes done, and the unlikelihood that hell survive. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. What happened from then, left a. 2023 Cable News Network. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. 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. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. 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. 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. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. Did you encounter any technical issues? But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. 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. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. Nah, Im a white guy.. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. August 22, 1979. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. 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. All Rights Reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. About to take off. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. ", "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. Worlds Largest Passenger Aircraft Will Fly Again, Russia May Use Military Aircraft for Civilians, A Livestream of Planes Trying to Land at Heathrow, Why a New 5G Rollout Is Making Airlines Nervous, The Complicated History of the Very First Flight, The VTOL Future of Flight That Never Took Off. 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. "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. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. In the days leading up to the theft and subsequent crash, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong with him, investigators wrote in the updated report. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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 NTSB is now processing the equipment. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. Playing What We Want In Seattle! I don't need that much help. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. You did that. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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. May 23, 1969. 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. The newly published video, coupled with Rolling Stones detailed reconstruction of the events of August 10, 2018, paint the picture of a cheerful, gregarious fellow. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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. 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. The Seattle FBI office said Sunday that it had recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon plane. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. 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. 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 . KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . New video released Wednesday shows what first responders found after a plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on a south Puget Sound island last August. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. 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. 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. Siddiq Saunderson Moved to L.A. and Immediately Bought a Prius, Millennials and Zillennials Can't Get Enough of Manual Transmissions, Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus (Lifetime Subscription), Tesla Investor Day 2023 Was Pretty Great if You Ignored Elon. 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. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. All rights reserved. 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. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. So many bags," he said. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . Never really knew it until now.". I don't know, man! "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. They say says this is a complete shock. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Aug. 12, 2018. Like a lot of bags. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. 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. As a flight controller tried to persuade him to land, he wondered aloud about whether he had enough fuel to make it to the Olympics, talked of the beautiful view, and said he had a lot of people who cared about him, apologizing for what he was doing. 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. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! 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! "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 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. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. It did not elaborate. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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? 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 They said it's not clear whether he had ever taken flight lessons or used flight simulators, or where he gained the skills to take off. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. "Congratulations. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. / CBS/AP. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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 death. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. The 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 . 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 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. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. "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. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. That includes both domestic and international flights. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! 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? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. / CBS/AP. He was in the air for about an hour. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. 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. New surveillance. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. 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. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. 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. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. 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. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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 . F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. "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.". He did not survive the crash. Im coming home! But it was not to be. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. I hope they can make it through this.". The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. "I lift a lot of bags. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. 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. "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. NORAD scrambled two F-15 to try to shepherd Russell away from populated areas of Seattle, but at 8:46 PM, Russell crashed the plane into an uninhabited part of Ketron Island in Puget Sound. The Port of Seattle just released the CCTV footage of 29-year-old Richard Russell towing the Alaska Airlines' Q400 Turboprop into position back in 2018 at the Seattle-Tacoma International. "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. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. 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. ", 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 don't want to. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. 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. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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.
. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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 . Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 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. You know?". "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. . 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.". 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 It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Ted Cruz calls for Fauci to be prosecuted in CPAC rant on Covid, George Santos under investigation by House Ethics committee, CDC sends warning after babys death linked to contaminated breast pump, Footage shows man stealing plane he crashed into a Washington island, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage.Can You Do Easter Eggs In Private Games Bo4,
How To Apply Customer Deposits In Quickbooks,
Steve Edelson Los Angeles,
Is The First Or Second Dose Of Suprep Worse,
Articles R