Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. 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. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. 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 black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. 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. So many bags," he said. "Never really knew it till now," he said. 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. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 2. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. They said it's not clear whether he had ever taken flight lessons or used flight simulators, or where he gained the skills to take off. "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. That includes both domestic and international flights. "Oh man. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. They say says this is a complete shock. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "In this plane, he certainly knew how to retract the landing gear, he coordinated both engines, powered them up to get a coordinated takeoff," she said. 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. 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. I don't know, man! That includes both domestic and international flights. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. There were no passengers aboard. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. Ah, dammit. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. 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Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. "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. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Like a lot of bags. 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. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. 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. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. 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. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. 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. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Cooper? "Congratulations. 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. 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. That's just not safe.". 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 plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. It evens out in the end.". I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. 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 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 Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. 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. New footage released by the Port of Seattle shows Mr Russell who worked as a baggage handler at the airport preparing the plane for takeoff. 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. 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. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. 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. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. 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. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. 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 . . July 13, 1994. You know?". 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. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. 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 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. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. All rights reserved. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. July 4, 1986. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. 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. ", 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. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. What happened from then, left a. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. "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.". He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. . Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. 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. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. I've played some video games before, he said. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . 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. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. 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. 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. Some speculated the plane was stolen as part of an insurance scam, or perhaps taken by terrorists who planned to use it as a flying bomb, but the truth remains unknown. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." A Warner Bros. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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 "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 . 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. "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. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Never really knew it until now.". At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. He was immediately killed. 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. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. "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. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities!
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richard russell plane crash video