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 job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. 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. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. 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. The Sky Thief Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Gone Viral: What 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. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. So many bags," he said. I've played some video games before, he said. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "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. I don't know, man! 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 plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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? SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. 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 . He was immediately killed. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. There were no passengers aboard. / CBS/AP. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 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. 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. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "I lift a lot of bags. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. .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. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. 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. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! 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. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane before fatal Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. He was in the air for about an hour. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. 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. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn New surveillance. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Russell took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 7.32pm on Friday and flew, tailed by F-15 Eagle jets, until the plane crashed at 8.47pm into Ketron Island, located 25 miles. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . July 13, 1994. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia 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. 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. Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate Nah, Im a white guy.. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. "Never really knew it till now," he said. Who Was Richard Russell? Man Steals Airplane and Crashes | Time 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. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. 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. That's just not safe.". FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! The photos provided some of the most compelling images: tree trunks sheared in half by the impact of the crash and parts of the Horizon Air Q400 Turboprop littered throughout the debris field. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. 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. 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. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. "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. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Sky King (RE-POST with new footage) || The Day an Airline Employee Foote was an experienced glider pilot and had undergone 100 hours of simulator flying in the Skyhawk and had hoped to become a military pilot before his ambitions were derailed by health issues. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. 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. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. 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. Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . 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. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". / CBS/AP. Richard "Beebo" Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane from Sea-Tac Airport on Friday night, performed midair acrobatics over Puget Sound and then crashed into an island, was an. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Like a lot of bags. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. 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. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. 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. 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. 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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. New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik 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. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. ", "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. 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. 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. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. "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. 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. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . 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. 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Indeed, in transcripts of his conversation with air-traffic control as he zig-zags the stolen plane through the airspace above the 15th-largest city in the U.S. (some of which can be heard in the video above), Russells demeanor goes from awestruck, to giddy, to fearful, to guilty, as he seems to process in real-time the weight of what hes done, and the unlikelihood that hell survive. 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. 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 . One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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. 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 . I don't know! The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. 7 months ago. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Winter Weather Advisory expires for much of western Washington, Intertribal comedy sketch troupe performs 'Between Two Knees' at Seattle Rep, plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed, Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin, released the findings of its investigation, Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport, 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Investigators work to determine how a man was able to pilot a stolen plane. Remains of airline worker who stole, crashed plane found on island in 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 . CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. "If you're going to access the aircraft you make sure that you check with someone else, and that someone else (will confirm) that you have the right authority to get onto that aircraft.". Ah, dammit. On his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he said he was from Wasilla, Alaska; lived in Sumner, Washington; and was married in 2012. A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. 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. Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well That includes both domestic and international flights.