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. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. 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. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. 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. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . 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. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. "I lift a lot of bags. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. "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. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. 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. 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. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. Did you encounter any technical issues? The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. 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. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. 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. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". 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. Like a lot of bags. 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 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. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. I don't want to. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 2. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. I don't know! He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM 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. ", 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've played some video games before," Russell responds. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 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. 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. / CBS/AP. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Ah, dammit. appreciated. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 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 . 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 plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. 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. 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. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. He was immediately killed. 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. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. 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. among other things. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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. Never really knew it until now.". 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. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. 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. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. 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 Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "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.". 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. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? He was killed in the crash. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there," the man responded, later adding, "This is probably jail time for life, huh? 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 . I've played some video games before, he said. 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. So many bags," he said. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 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.
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.
. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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. 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. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie 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. 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. "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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. "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. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. 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. All rights reserved. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. 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. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" 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 plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. 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. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. It did not elaborate. What happened from then, left a. They say says this is a complete shock. 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. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". ", "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. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. 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. 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. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. 7 months ago. What followed was a 73-minute joyride during which Richard Beebo Russell had a surprisingly candid conversation with air-traffic controllers as he pushed the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-engine plane through some daring acrobatic moves. 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. That includes both domestic and international flights. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. he joked. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. 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. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. . 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Discovery Company. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. 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. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. All Rights Reserved. Nah, Im a white guy.. 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. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. 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