Rick Christenson, who was previously an operational supervisor with Horizon Air and who watched Russells flight over Puget Sound, described Russell to the Times as a quiet guy. It seemed like he was well-liked by the other workers, Christenson said. Ah, minimum wage. On Facebook, Rich, using the name Beebo Russell, wrote that he lived in Sumner, Washington, was from Wasilla, Alaska, and was married to Hannah Russell, who works as an assistant pastry chef and . Compilation of footage of the aircraft being flown erratically in the vicinity of Seattle, and the pursuing F-15s, News report featuring surveillance footage, Man Steals a Passenger Plane and Crashes it Just After Takeoff (With Real Video), Washington State University Global Campus, "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Preliminary Report Accident Number: WPR18FA220", "Update on Investigation into Unauthorized Flight", "Alaska Air Horizon plane crashes after being stolen by airline employee", "How it unfolded: Full coverage of the Horizon Air crash and the man who stole the plane from Sea-Tac", "Stolen plane was chased by military jets before it crashed", "Crash: Horizon DH8D at Ketron Island on Aug 10th 2018, stolen aircraft crashed into forest", "Stolen plane closes Seattle-Tacoma airport before crashing", "Oregon F-15s Scramble To Seattle To Intercept Possibly Stolen Q400 Airliner (Updated)", "F-15Cs Intercept Stolen DASH-8 Airliner out of Seattle Tacoma Airport Before Crash", "LIVE: Plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashes on small island; no passengers on board", "Pilot wanted to do aerobatics, apologized for his actions as he spoke with air traffic control", "NORAD F-15Cs intercept suicidal pilot in dramatic chase near Seattle", "Passenger Plane Stolen by Employee Crashes on Island Near Seattle Airport", "Seattle hijacker's plane heist, midair stunts and fiery crash expose gaps in aviation security", "Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Airline worker who stole plane told air traffic control 'I don't want to hurt no one', "SeaTac Hijacker Had the Skills to Take Out a Skyscraper Horizon Air ground handler Richard Russell knew how to fly without tearing the plane apartand enough fuel to be a flying bomb. (shown below). On August 10th, 2018, Russell stole the airliner from a maintenance position at the Sea-Tac airport. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. Then he took an Alaska Airlines plane. Both were armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles[12] and went supersonic, generating sonic booms on the way to the Puget Sound area. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. Phillip Hamilton. Legal Information: Know Your Meme is a trademark of Literally Media Ltd. By using this site, you are agreeing by the site's terms of use and privacy policy and DMCA policy. Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate Never really knew it until now. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. Goodbye" (shown below, left). Well chalk it up to that. They may not admit for a few days. He also had a pellet gun, with which he eventually shot several of the balloons, beginning his slow descent. Richard Russell had a website that appeared to have been for a college communications class. Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. Richard Russell was a jokester who complained about work, but Sea-Tac Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! The family thanked authorities, Alaskair, the community and Russells friends and family. He attended Washington State Global University Campus from 2016-2017, seeking a bachelors degree in social science. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. He was 29 years old and a member of the ground crew at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, earning minimum wage. I hope it doesnt ruin your day. Up until then, he had seemed torn between life and death, at least considering the possibility of attempting a landing or ditching the aircraft in the sea. Men in the UK, aged 20 to 49, are more likely to die from . #iflyalaska #akedchat.. [20] A veteran pilot said the maneuver "seemed pretty well executed, without either stalling or pulling the wings off. For the full details on "Sky King" meme and viral story, be sure to check out our entry on the meme here for even more information. I lift a lot of bags. [31][32] On August 12, the FBI said that it had recovered the flight data recorder along with components of the cockpit voice recorder. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. The libs are trying to solve the housing crisis in deep blue areas by having teachers live with their students. We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go. His familys brief statement did not address any potential mental health issues. People like me dont do things like that. bit.ly/subAIRBOYD Various scanner recordings from liveatc.net and broadcastify.com SEA Ground, Tower, Departure/Approach. Purportedly, when the arresting officers asked why he had risked his life with such a stunt, he said, A man cant just sit around., Later, he told the press, It was something I had to do. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. The video shows Russell wearing a shirt that reads The skys no limit, as he passed through security at the airport, where he worked. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible copycat this September. "[43] Some co-workers said that Russell had probably trained himself to fly using amateur flight simulation software. in. On Facebook, Rich, using the name Beebo Russell, wrote that he lived in Sumner, Washington, was from Wasilla, Alaska, and was married to Hannah Russell, who works as an assistant pastry chef and waitress, according to her social media account. (Video: Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post). Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. I love my parents and sister this isn't your fault. On August 11th, 2018, a post about the plane crash was submitted to 4chan's /pol/ board,[1] where an anonymous user replied "Sky King?" Literally Media Ltd. Here's the full story. [41] They sold the bakery in 2015 so his wife could be closer to her family; they settled in Sumner, Washington, and Russell found employment with Horizon Air. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. Footage of Russell performing the barrel roll was captured on video by Facebook[2] user John Waldron. Two F-15 fighter planes were scrambled to follow Rich, who eventually crashed into a wooded area a little over an hour after takeoff, killing only himself. Although investigators received information regarding Russell's background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russell's actions. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Not entirely sure whats happening. I think I might mess something up there too. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . Wife of Richard Russel, Hannahh Russel documented her seven-year-long marriage to the 29-year-old on Instagram ( Source : co ) "After failing to persuade Hannah of Alaska's awesomeness, we landed on Sumner due to its proximity to her family," he wrote in his blog. He and his wife had owned a bakery in Oregon but sold it to move closer to her family. He somehow managed to execute a barrel roll and a few other aerobatic maneuvers before crashing the aircraft onto a sparsely populated island, killing only himself. Sky King ~ Richard Russell on Vimeo You can listen to more archived aviation audio on the incident here, some of which captures the mans voice: READ NEXT: TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. Authorities said they dont think he had a pilots license and arent sure how he was able to take off, much less perform complicated tricks in the air like a barrel roll. At one point, Russell told a controller he had played a lot of video games. On July 2, 1982, a . Russell is then seen walking into a restricted area meant for baggage handlers, getting onto a tarmac tow vehicle, and dragging the plane he was set to steal onto the runway. After 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 about why and how he undertook the ultimately fatal flight. As the voice recording shows, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him.. Pilot said it was most bizarre thing hed heard in his career. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. Weird times. The final descent at Ketron Island was determined to be intentional, and suicide was listed as the manner of death. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. We believe there are no passengers on board. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt that says "the sky's no limit." At one point in the dramatic audio, Richard Russell told the tower he was losing an engine. Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. Hey all! Other video shows him clocking in to work. At one point, Rich reported that he threw up all over the cockpit, according to the audio. ATC said, "they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off", to which he replied, "Yeah right! More information as we learn more, Alaska Airlines wrote on Twitter around 9:20 p.m. on the west coast. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Theres something wrong with all of us. [24] Delayed by the SteilacoomAnderson Island ferry, firefighters from West Pierce Fire and Rescue and other nearby departments arrived on the island about an hour and a half after the crash, where they then contended with the island's thick brush. How was he able to take off without being stopped? You couldnt even tell it was a plane except for some of the bigger sections, like the wing section, western Pacific region chief Debra Eckrote said. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. The statement, he added, was the only one that will be released. Apparently someone stole a Horizon Q and is flying it over SeaTac. I just want you to whisper sweet nothings into my ear, said Rich, who claimed he could fly the plane because he played video games. The FBI is investigating the stunning heist, which has raised concerns about the security of commercial aircraft and mental health issues among airline workers nearly 17 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Luke Adams ? Richard Russell, AKA Rich, the man who took the Sea-Tac plane and crashed it. (More info in comments) 2 years ago today, Richard Russell, an - reddit We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go. His website is filled with photos and videos of his travels and was previously linked to his Instagram account. On behalf of the family, we are stunned and heartbroken. U.S. Airlines Are Editing Their Websites to Remove Taiwan's Name at China's Request, What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. The man who stole a commercial aeroplane in Seattle, and took his life by crashing it, has become a folk hero to neo-Nazi groups and incels, drafted into a poisonous delusion that is becoming mainstream. 1:10. Never knew he was fighting a battle non of us knew about. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Richard Russell, who dreamed of being in the military and once ran a bakery with his wife, was identified as the suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted stunts in the air before the plane crashed. USA TODAY. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. He did a barrel roll in a stolen plane and went out in a blaze of glory. Never really knew it, until now., While Lawnchair Larry was mostly a figure of fun in our popular culture, many people responded to Rich Russells flight with a level of compassion unfamiliar in our social media age. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. He worked at the airline for more than three years, authorities said. [25][26] No injuries were reported to residents of the sparsely populated island despite the crash site being in close proximity to at least one cabin, which was occupied at the time of the incident. The fighter jets were scrambled from Portland. More information as we learn more. Russell flew the plane around Seattle for an hour while National, New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident, 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. He was a quiet and well-liked young man who was active in his church. Weird times., CBS News reporter Kris Van Cleave wrote, FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle. He shared a tweet from a woman named Victoria, who wrote, Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. Its gonna be crazy, he said at one point in air traffic control transmissions. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. ", "Plane Thief Said He Trained on Games, Didn't Plan to Land", "NORAD: Fighter jets were trying to direct stolen plane over Pacific Ocean when it crashed", "Towboat crew dropped everything to respond to Ketron Island crash", "Firefighters battle more than flames after Ketron Island plane crash", "Seattle plane crash: 'heartbroken' family remember gentle man who meant no harm", "Ketron Island residents grateful Horizon Air plane didn't crash into homes", "Thanks to everyone for sharing accurate information, insuring the public's safety. He claimed to have buzzed Mount Rainier. [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle . Below are some of the clips. It is not surprising that I thought of Larry Walters when I first heard about Richard Russell. Sky King Richard Russell Quotes - Wise Famous Quotes But is true.., Here is a statement from the family of Richard Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane, crashed it into Ketron Island.This is a complete shock to us. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. Now a family is left to reckon with tragedy, while strangers find grim inspiration in his final act. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. She foiled their plans. | You can watch the video above. Another called it cathartic and liberating.. Damnit Andrew, peoples lives are at stake here, Rich said at one point in the audio, which you can listen to later in this article. Once I earn my Bachelors in Social Sciences I will either seek a management position where Im at now, or possibly join the military as an officer. Richard Russell: Family of man who stole plane 'stunned and heartbroken' [7], SeattleTacoma air traffic control (ATC) maintained radio contact with the occupant. Perhaps the least we should do in the wake of such tragedies is to reflect upon the words attributed to Philo of Alexandria: Be kind, for everyone you meet is in the midst of a great struggle.. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. pic.twitter.com/5z4BYRBrcU, Kierra Elfalan (@KierraElfalanTV) August 12, 2018. Nah, I'm a white guy. Quite a scary experience. Its not clear whether Russell, 29, had ever really flown a plane before. Lee Goldberg. Glenn Sullivan, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the Virginia Military Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lexington, Virginia. [5] A nearby Alaska Airlines jet on the ground reported that the aircraft began a takeoff roll with its wheels smoking,[5] and an unauthorized take-off was made at 19:32 local time (02:32 UTC, August 11). Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was owner/operator of Hannah Maries Bakery from 2012 through 2015 in North Bend, Oregon. He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. Monteith also recalled that Russell had been in the cockpit of an Embraer 175 with him, and that Russell asked him about his "flows, which is the preflight preparation I do for takeoff. He was very, very friendly automatically willing to bring everyone in, Hannah Holmes, who also participates in Young Life, told The Seattle Times. Full video form John Waldron on Facebook being shown on CNN #seatac pic.twitter.com/R98bl5uQBr. [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. Videos posted to social media showed the other side of his skills. Russell said to dispatchers, You think if I can land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot? and the Air Traffic Control tower said, I think they will give you a job doing anything if you pull this off. He replied, according to some sites, Yeah right! Facebook The man, known as Rich in air traffic control audio and dubbed the sky king on Twitter, broke hearts on social media as people followed the unauthorized flight before it came to a fatal end. Powered by. The new footage appears to show Russell wearing a shirt that reads "The Sky's No Limit . Theyre not as easy to fly as, say, a Cessna 150, Beck said. Family friend Mike Matthews read a statement from Russells family that said the incident was a complete shock to them. One man wrote on Twitter, Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night: When Faustian Man Has No Way Out A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. Privacy, Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi. Sky-King Rich 'Beebo' Russell FULL AUDIO w/ Air Traffic Control Rest in peace Rich. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. Like a lot of bags. Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. I wouldnt want to do that. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. 1.6K. [5] It was not scheduled to fly again that day. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The general feeling was, "It is a wonder that more of us don't crack from the tedium and meaninglessness of our consumer culture." Public acts of violence such as mass shootings often reflect the perpetrators troubled, dark past. TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Richard Russell, AKA Rich or Beebo Russell, was named as the airport mechanic who stole a Horizon plane at Sea-Tac and crashed it. August 10, 2021 by Kirk Forlatt. PostedSeptember 24, 2018 It was recovered along with the cockpit voice recorder, authorities said Sunday, amid a streak of disintegrated debris. I would hope it is for a guy like me. People on Twitter who were following the aviation audio reported that the man attempted a barrel roll with the plane at one point. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac . Gary Beck, CEO of Horizon Air, told The Seattle Times it was impressive that Russell pulled off incredible maneuvers like a barrel roll with no flying experience. This video is not meant to glamorize suicide. He has buzzed Mt Rainer and the Seattle area. Tower, you need to call and scramble now, one pilot warned, according to the video. Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com RIP to the SkyKing. He carried with him a CB radio, sandwiches, beer, and a camera. Richard Russell Steals a Horizon Air Q400 (Exclusive New Footage), On August 10, 2018, a Horizon ground operations employee by the name of Richard Bryan Russell Jr., stole a $32,000,000 Horizon Q400 airplane, N449QX, from the Cargo 1 / Line 1 area at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. [37] From early childhood he was known as "Beebo" to his friends and family. He appeared regretful about the pain he knew would inevitably visit his family. It had first flown in 2012 and was delivered new to Horizon Air in the same year. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. "[16][19] He added that he "wasn't really planning on landing it. People contended that he didnt want to die "he just wanted to feel alive for once in his life.. [20] They married in 2012. . Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018, People posted photos and videos to Twitter of a plume of smoke and possible crash site. Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget Sound . A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. We've received your submission. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. In another moment, Russell said he was lightheaded and talked about adjusting the cabin pressure, but it was not clear whether he was able to do that. Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. SeaTac air traffic control made radio contact with Russell, the sole occupant, who described himself as a "broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess." Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. Facebook Richard Russell plane crash video was released. He doesnt sound confident in his ability to land back at SeaTac. A friend wrote on Facebook, So heart brokenhe was such a kind person to me. Filed under Richard Russell had a website that appears to have been for a college communications class. Its gonna be crazy, he tells traffic control, according to the video provided to local Seattle news outlet KOIN. After attempting the aircraft took off, two F-15 fighter jets were deployed. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. Video related to richard russell, rich: 5 fast facts you need to know, Click to subscribe! Audio released of Russells conversation with an air traffic controller suggests that he was struggling with mental health issues, but his motive for stealing the plane remains unclear. At one point, the controller suggests he might be able to get a job as a pilot after this and Russell replies, "Nah, I'm a white guy." I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, flew the plane for 73 minutes before crashing it into remote Ketron Island, which has fewer than 20 residents. "[20], Rolling Stone magazine investigated the incident and reported in 2021 that some of Russell's friends and family believe he may have suffered brain injuries during his football years in high school and college. The episode has also suggested that Russell was more complicated than the easygoing persona of his known online footprint.