Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. Nah, Im a white guy.. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Playing What We Want In Seattle! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. 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. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. 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. 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. "I lift a lot of bags. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! May 23, 1969. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Like a lot of bags. 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. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. That includes both domestic and international flights. appreciated. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . 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. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM 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. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Please enter valid email address to continue. Scroll down to continue . He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 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. 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. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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. .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. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. among other things. So many bags," he said. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and maintenance area for the night after arriving from Victoria, British Columbia, earlier in the day. 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. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. He was killed in the crash. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. 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. 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. 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. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. Aug. 12, 2018. I don't know! I've played some video games before, he said. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. "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. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. Others include how, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attack, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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. 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. ", "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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. 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. 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. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "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. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! 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. Newly-released videos from the Port of Seattle show the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane nearly four years ago. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. 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. 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. 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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. New footage released by the Port of Seattle shows Mr Russell who worked as a baggage handler at the airport preparing the plane for takeoff. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. New surveillance. 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. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. 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 He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All Rights Reserved. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. "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. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. August 22, 1979. 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. 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. 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! The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. I don't know, man! After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. It did not elaborate. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. You did that. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 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. 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. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. 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. 2. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. "Oh man. 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. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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 . Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". 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. 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. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. I don't need that much help. All rights reserved. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. 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 At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. "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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. Please enter valid email address to continue. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 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.
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