Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. 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. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. 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. 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 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. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. 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. I hope they can make it through this.". You know?". Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, On the day of his tragic flight, Mr Russell wore a shirt that said The Sky is No Limit, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Air Traffic Control audio reveals conversation with man who stole Alaska Airlines plane. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. May 23, 1969. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. / CBS/AP. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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. It's Troublingly Common for Ground Crew Members To Steal Planes 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. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. 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. 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. 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 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. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. 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. "I lift a lot of bags. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! You did that. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CCTV Footage Shows Baggage Handler Stealing Plane, Crashes On Island - TMZ "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. "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. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. Nah, Im a white guy.. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident Sky King (RE-POST with new footage) || The Day an Airline Employee After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. A Warner Bros. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. 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. 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, FBI probes how airline employee stole plane, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization, push us to learn what we can from this tragedy. 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 tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 2023 Cox Media Group. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. 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 NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." The Associated Press contributed to this report. / CBS/AP. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . 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. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia 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. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. Video captures Richard Russell doing tricks in stolen Horizon Air plane Russell responds: "Awwww-right. That includes both domestic and international flights. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. 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. 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,. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com 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. 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. 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 . Did you encounter any technical issues? Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. 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 . Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! So many bags," he said. "Oh man. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. "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.". "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. I've played some video games before, he said. 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? He was in the air for about an hour. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. That's just not safe.". Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com ", 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. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. 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.
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