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", 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. 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. "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.". After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. 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. 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,. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. 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. You know?". Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. New surveillance. A Warner Bros. All rights reserved. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. As a flight controller tried to persuade him to land, he wondered aloud about whether he had enough fuel to make it to the Olympics, talked of the beautiful view, and said he had a lot of people who cared about him, apologizing for what he was doing. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. July 13, 1994. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM 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. 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. 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. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! As the FBI investigation wrapped up earlier this week, West Pierce Fire and Rescue released some of the first footage from the scene through public disclosure. 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. 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 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.". 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. appreciated. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. 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. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. 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. Like a lot of bags. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. He did not survive the crash. 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. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. May 25, 2003. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. Ah, dammit. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. ", "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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . I don't know! John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. 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! CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. "Oh man. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. 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. That includes both domestic and international flights. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM So many bags," he said. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. "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.". "Congratulations. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. "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. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. "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. "I lift a lot of bags. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. 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 . Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. He was immediately killed. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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 . The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. 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. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. . Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. All Rights Reserved. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. 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 . 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. 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. "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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. 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. 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. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. 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.

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.

. "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. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. I don't know, man! Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent for three and a half years, was the only person aboard the plane, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. I've played some video games before, he said. 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. 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 Associated Press contributed to this report. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. 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. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. You did that. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?