Scroll down to continue . Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. New surveillance. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. It did not elaborate. 2023 Cable News Network. He was killed in the crash. It evens out in the end.". Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. "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.". 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. I don't know! All rights reserved. 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. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. "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. "I lift a lot of bags. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. "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. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". 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. 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 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. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. "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. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 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. 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. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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. 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. 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. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. 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,. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. So many bags," he said. Cooper? In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. Never really knew it until now.". A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. 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. 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? Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. 2. 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. 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! 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. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM 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. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . among other things. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". 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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "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. I don't need that much help. 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. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. That includes both domestic and international flights. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. 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. 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. / CBS/AP. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. "I lift a lot of bags. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. 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 . Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! May 25, 2003. "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. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". 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. 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. "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.". "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. Details of man who sources say stole airplane from Sea-Tac, Officials: Man who stole plane, died in crash not a pilot, Woman faces decades in prison after lying about murder, Do you have an investigative story tip? Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. 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. 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. 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. Nah, Im a white guy.. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. Like a lot of bags. 2023 Cox Media Group. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. 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. July 13, 1994. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. What happened from then, left a. 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. "Oh man. 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. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. 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 video shows crash site of stolen plane. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". You did that. "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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . appreciated. 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. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 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. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He was immediately killed. "Congratulations. 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 . The 76-seat Horizon Air turboprop plane took off without authorization at 7:32 p.m. local time Friday, with Russell, who was not a pilot, at the controls, officials said. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 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. Find flight for cheapWith 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 left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Send us an email at
[email protected], 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. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. He was immediately killed. He did not survive the crash. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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 agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 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. 7 months ago. 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 So many bags," he said. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. 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. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. That's just not safe.". 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. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. "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.". 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. 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. 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. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. "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. I don't know, man! August 22, 1979. 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. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". 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. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. 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. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. 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. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she 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. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? Playing What We Want In Seattle! Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he 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. 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. ", "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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There were no passengers aboard. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff.
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