He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. He was immediately killed. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! The Associated Press contributed to this report. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 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. / CBS/AP. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. The Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the . "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.". 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. He was killed in the crash. 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. 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. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. Im coming home! But it was not to be. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! 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. 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 U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is online 24/7 to help you in a time of depression or desperation. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. 2. 2023 Cable News Network. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. 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. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. 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. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. July 4, 1986. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. Cooper? 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. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. .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. 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. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. 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. . 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 rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. That's just not safe.". May 23, 1969. 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 he crashed 25 miles away. "I lift a lot of bags. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. 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. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". Amazingly, despite the unprecedented nature of this deadly feat, and the fact that it could have easily become a mass casualty event, Russells flight and fatal crash seemed to hardly make a splash in the national news. 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. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. 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. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. It evens out in the end.". Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. The Associated Press contributed to this report. So many bags," he said. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Nah, Im a white guy.. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "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. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. There were no passengers aboard. I don't want to. "Congratulations. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. "I think I'm going to try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good I'll go nose down and call it a night," Richard Russell said from the cockpit, according to a recording of his conversation with the controller. I hope they can make it through this.". I've played some video games before, he said. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. "Oh man. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. August 22, 1979. 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. 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. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. 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. 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 agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. "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. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. 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. 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. He did not survive the crash. "Never really knew it till now," he said. 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. "We heard the jet because our windows were down while we were waiting in the ferry line to go to Anderson Island, which is adjacent to Ketron Island.". Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. That includes both domestic and international flights. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. 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. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. 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. among other things. That includes both domestic and international flights. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. New surveillance. "But the air traffic controller had to tell him how to set what they call the 'bugs' -- they're just little, sort of, little levers, or little notches on your indicator for your heading, which is kind of basic. Playing What We Want In Seattle! Mr Russell was at times jovial at one point he assured SeaTac's tower that he didn't need help controlling the airplane because he had played some video games and questioned if it could do a backflip and was at others melancholic. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. New video shows the crash site and blogging made by Richard Russell, the airline worker who stole and crashed a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 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. They say says this is a complete shock. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. So many bags," he said. 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. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. It did not elaborate. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. 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. 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. He was in the air for about an hour. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . Did you encounter any technical issues? Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. On the other hand, Russell was reported to have been profoundly troubled, whereas Malaysian authorities were unable to find any evidence that Shah suffered from mental illness or was undergoing any kind of stress in his life. 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. You know?". Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. At one point he asks the controller, Hey, do you think if I land this successfully, Alaska [Horizon Airs parent company, Alaska Airllines] will give me a job as a pilot? Told, You know, I think they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off, Russell replies, Yeah right! The body camera and cell phone video shows firefighters climbing through dense brush and fallen trees to get to the crash site on Ketron Island. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Scroll down to continue . 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Ben Charles Padilla, an aircraft mechanic who held a private pilots license and was a certified flight engineer, was repairing a 727 airliner in Luanda, Angola for a Florida-based company named Aerospace Sales and Leasing. 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? 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. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. Discovery Company. "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. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. A Warner Bros. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". I don't need that much help. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. 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. 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. 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. The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. Others include how, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attack, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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 . 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. 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. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. 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 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. All Rights Reserved. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. Never really knew it until now.". CNN's Kyung Lah reports. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. 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. 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. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a 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.
