"It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "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. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 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. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. He was in the air for about an hour. About to take off. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. 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. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. "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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. 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. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. July 4, 1986. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . May 25, 2003. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. / CBS/AP. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 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 . Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. 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. 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. 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. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. That includes both domestic and international flights. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." ", Referring to audio recordings of Russell talking to air traffic control during his hour-long flight, the statement said his "intent was not to harm anyone. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries!
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.
. I don't know, man! Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM New surveillance. 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. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! 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? As the FBI investigation wrapped up earlier this week, West Pierce Fire and Rescue released some of the first footage from the scene through public disclosure. 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. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. / CBS/AP. 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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. So many bags," he said. 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! 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. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Like a lot of bags. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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. 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. I've played some video games before, he said. 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. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. 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. 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 . 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 . 2. 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. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM That's just not safe.". Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. "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.". 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. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. 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. 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. A Warner Bros. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. 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Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. July 13, 1994. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. 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. You know?". Start your Independent Premium subscription today. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "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.". Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. 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. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. 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. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. 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. . Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. Ah, dammit. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. .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. 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. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. The body camera and cell phone video shows firefighters climbing through dense brush and fallen trees to get to the crash site on Ketron Island. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The Pierce County Medical Examiners Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. He was immediately killed. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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. He was immediately killed. 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. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. 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. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! August 22, 1979. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane 02:22 CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. "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. 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. He did not survive the crash. 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. 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. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. 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. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? So many bags," he 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. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. Never really knew it until now.". 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. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. Hearst Magazine Media, 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. 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. Discovery Company. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking.