Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. 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. 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". 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. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn 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. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com 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? "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.". Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. 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. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. 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. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. It's Troublingly Common for Ground Crew Members To Steal Planes 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. 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 . "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . The FBI released the findings of its investigation earlier this week, concluding 28-year-old ramp agent Richard Russell, also known as Bebo, stole the Horizon airplane and intentionally crashed it into the south end of Ketron Island. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. Who Was Richard Russell? Man Steals Airplane and Crashes | Time In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet.
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.
. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen August 22, 1979. 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. He was immediately killed. 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 . On Friday, Horizon Air ground service agent .css-3wjtm9{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#1c6a65;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-3wjtm9:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Richard B. Russell got in one of the airlines Bombardier Q400 aircraft and took off from Seattles SeaTac Airport. 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. 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. 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. I don't want to. "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. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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 . Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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?". / CBS/AP. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. He did not survive the crash. July 13, 1994. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. 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 The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. Family of man who stole, crashed plane 'stunned' - KJRH 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 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. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. "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. 7 months ago. Remains of airline worker who stole, crashed plane found on island in 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. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . May 25, 2003. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. 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. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. 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. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, Sudden FAA Failure Grounds U.S. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. Sky King (RE-POST with new footage) || The Day an Airline Employee 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. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air.