The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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. 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. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. A Warner Bros. "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.". "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. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". "A couple of the turns, it looked like what we call in basic flight training a 'coordinated turn,' meaning that he not only used the yoke but you also coordinate with the rudders and you do the turns. Russell, who was a ground services employee for Horizon Air, sat in the plane's cockpit for nearly an hour and a half before the unauthorized takeoff. 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! 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. U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. 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. 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. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. 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 U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is online 24/7 to help you in a time of depression or desperation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. 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. "Congratulations. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." I don't want to. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. 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. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. 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. About to take off. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. 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. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. 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 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. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. Some speculated the plane was stolen as part of an insurance scam, or perhaps taken by terrorists who planned to use it as a flying bomb, but the truth remains unknown. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. 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,. 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. 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. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. 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. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", "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. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. 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. 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. Aug. 12, 2018. "I never thought I would work as a Ground Service Agent (GSA) for an Airlines company," he wrote in a blog post in September 2017. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. .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. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Ah, dammit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. he joked. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! 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. 2. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. There were no passengers aboard. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. July 4, 1986. May 25, 2003. "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. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. It evens out in the end.". strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. 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. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. 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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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? His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. What happened from then, left a. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. 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. Data from the flight data recorder showed there was a significant sideslip on the airplane during the last minute of the flight, but the airplane appeared to stay in control, according to the FBI report. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. 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. 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. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. 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. 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. 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 worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. 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. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. 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. The job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. You did that. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". That includes both domestic and international flights. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. I don't know! In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. "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. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. / CBS/AP. That's just not safe.". I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . 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. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. I don't need that much help. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. "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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. 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. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. 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. 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. 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. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. 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. 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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. 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 . He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. You know?". "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. 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.