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. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. He was immediately killed. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Like a lot of bags. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. "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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. ", 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. May 25, 2003. 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. 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. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. It evens out in the end.". 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. Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee - CNN FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane Richard "Beebo" Russell (Screenshot from YouTube via AP) SEATTLE - The Horizon Air baggage handler who stole a commercial airplane from Sea-Tac Airport and took it for a 73-minute joy ride . "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. ", "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. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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 . Video from 2018 shows final moments of Sea-Tac Airport worker - KOMO His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. 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 . 2. Im coming home! But it was not to be. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 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. Never really knew it until now.". Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! I don't know! The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. 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! The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen The Associated Press contributed to this report. "I lift a lot of bags. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. "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. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash 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. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. 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. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. 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 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. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. Playing What We Want In Seattle! 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. 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. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia 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. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". 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 plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. He was in the air for about an hour. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. August 22, 1979. I don't want to. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. 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. 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. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. It seemed like such miserable work and I never could imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to all the constant noise, gas fumes, and heavy lifting. 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. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. 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. 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.". 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? 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 Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . 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? CNN's Kyung Lah reports. 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. Nah, Im a white guy.. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. 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. 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. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Within minutes of the plane's takeoff, the military scrambled two armed F-15 jets from Oregon to follow it, according to local and airline authorities and two sources with knowledge of the situation. he joked. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Security footage shows man stealing plane he later crashed into a Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. I hope they can make it through this.". That's just not safe.". The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. 2023 Cable News Network. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. About to take off. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. 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. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. I don't know, man! I've played some video games before, 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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 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. 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. Richard Russell: Authorities don't believe man who stole Dash-8 Q400 (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. That includes both domestic and international flights. It did not elaborate. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. "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. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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 incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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? 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 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. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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 . July 4, 1986. 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. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. "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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. May 23, 1969. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 7 months ago. So many bags," he said. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. "Never really knew it till now," he said. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. 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. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. 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. 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. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. All rights reserved. appreciated. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. among other things. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. Ah, dammit. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions.