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. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. "We heard the jet because our windows were down while we were waiting in the ferry line to go to Anderson Island, which is adjacent to Ketron Island.". 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. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com Lastly, we've been reporting a lot only on the most famous case of suspected pilot suicide, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, and this weekend's tragedy bears at least a few similarities. Marine Corps lance corporal Howard A. Foote, Jr. stole an A-4M Skyhawk ground attack jet from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and took it on a 45-minute aerobatic joyride before returning to base and landing safely. Within minutes of the plane's takeoff, the military scrambled two armed F-15 jets from Oregon to follow it, according to local and airline authorities and two sources with knowledge of the situation. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. "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. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. It did not elaborate. A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, In audio recordings released over the internet, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. 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. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. 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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com [deleted] 5 yr. ago. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! "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. New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com He was immediately killed. "I lift a lot of bags. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. 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 on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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 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. 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! Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images 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. Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. He was immediately killed. 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. 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. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash 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 seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane before fatal 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. Cooper? Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! "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. 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane He was killed in the crash. 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. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. 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. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. "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. 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. About to take off. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. I hope they can make it through this.". An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. I don't want to. New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in - YouTube All rights reserved. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . May 25, 2003. "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. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee - CNN / CBS/AP. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. "Last night's event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline," Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, told a news conference Saturday. 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. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. 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. They said it's clear Russell didn't intend to harm anyone, and "he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him. 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. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane - HITC Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Nah, Im a white guy.. 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. That's just not safe.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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 until now.". Richard "Beebo" Russell (Screenshot from YouTube via AP) SEATTLE - The Horizon Air baggage handler who stole a commercial airplane from Sea-Tac Airport and took it for a 73-minute joy ride . appreciated. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on 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. 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. "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. I've played some video games before, he said. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Richard Russell, pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane, had lighthearted The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Sunday that Russell had died in the fiery wreckage, but whether the crash was deliberate or accidental was one of several topics remaining for investigators. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well Remains of airline worker who stole, crashed plane found on island in (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. 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. 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. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. Family of man who stole, crashed plane 'stunned' - KJRH "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. 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. 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,. You did that. "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. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. 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. New surveillance. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software.