Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. 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. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". It evens out in the end.". Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com He did not survive the crash. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident 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. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. 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. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video ", 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. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane - HITC Did you encounter any technical issues? Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. / CBS/AP. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. Family of man who stole, crashed plane 'stunned' - KJRH Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in - YouTube Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. 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 . Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. 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. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". That's just not safe.". FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen 2023 Cable News Network. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . 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. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Nah, Im a white guy.. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. I've played some video games before, he said. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! "I lift a lot of bags. 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. May 23, 1969. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM CNN's Kyung Lah reports. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. 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. Ah, dammit. 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. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. "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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. 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. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . 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. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island 2023 Cox Media Group. he joked. Richard Russell, pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane, had lighthearted Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash 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. 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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. "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.". 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. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Who was Richard Russell? Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. I don't know! Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com 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. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM 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. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. "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. It was one of the strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018: A baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport moseyed onto the tarmac, hopped in an unoccupied Horizon Air passenger plane, taxied to an empty runway, and took off. 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. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. They say says this is a complete shock. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cooper? A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. 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. Potential targets included tens of thousands of fans assembling at Safeco Field, about 12 miles away, for a sold-out Pearl Jam concert just as he took off. 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. 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. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. 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. 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? F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. 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. Playing What We Want In Seattle! 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. Data from the flight data recorder showed there was a significant sideslip on the airplane during the last minute of the flight, but the airplane appeared to stay in control, according to the FBI report. . 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 Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. 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. Remains of airline worker who stole, crashed plane found on island in We may earn a commission from links on this page. A video made by Richard Russell, the man who just stole a plane. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. New footage shows airport worker Richard Russell steal plane But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . All Rights Reserved. "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. I don't know, man! Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "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.". "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. 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. 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. 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. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Discovery Company. 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. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . Security footage shows man stealing plane he later crashed into a 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 . "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. 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.
. 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. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, In audio recordings released over the internet, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. 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. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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. 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. "Congratulations. / CBS/AP. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. 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. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. 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. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. 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 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. That includes both domestic and international flights. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. 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. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. Scroll down to continue . Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. 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. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images 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? 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 left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. "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. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". .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.