Its not clear how he pulled off the intense maneuvers captured on video. People expressed an emotional connection with him through postings on social media, T-shirts, and tribute songs. On August 10th, 2018, a service agent for Horizon Air named Richard "Beebo" Russell used his position to steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. [1][7][8][9] In response, two McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles of the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing under the command of NORAD[10] were scrambled at around 20:15 local time[11] from Portland Air National Guard Base to intercept it. After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. Facebook Richard Russell plane crash video was released. Richard Russell, AKA Rich, the man who took the Sea-Tac plane and crashed it. Below are some of the clips. Seattle ground Horizon guy. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. Richard Russell Steals a Horizon Air Q400 (Exclusive New Footage), On August 10, 2018, a Horizon ground operations employee by the name of Richard Bryan Russell Jr., stole a $32,000,000 Horizon Q400 airplane, N449QX, from the Cargo 1 / Line 1 area at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Damnit Andrew, peoples lives are at stake here, Rich said at one point in the audio, which you can listen to later in this article. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. [20] They married in 2012. So many bags, he said. These statements should probably be considered the emotional projections of similarly disaffected people. On 4chan,[7][8] threads dedicated to Russell were submitted over the next several days, many of which contained photoshops, image macros and fan arts praising the incident and referring to Russell as "Sky King" (shown below). Richard Russell, who dreamed of being in the military and once ran a bakery with his wife, was identified as the suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted stunts in the air before the plane crashed. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. The couple settled in Sumner, Wa., where Russell got a job at Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, so he could easily fly back to Alaska to see his own family. [34][35] The FBI stated, "Interviews with work colleagues, friends, and familyand review of text messages exchanged with Russell during the incidentdid not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology. Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. I think Im gonna try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good, Im just gonna nose down and call it a night., Hannah Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Then, it segues into a montage of photos from Russells trips to Alaska, France, Ireland, and other places before ending with a scene from a family gathering. This is "Sky King ~ Richard Russell" by Nibbus Jimmus on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. The fire burned a 2-acre (0.8ha) area,[23] but was extinguished by the following morning. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. But he mentioned video games during his recorded conversation with air traffic control, which some have taken as a reference to flight simulator software. ATC said, "they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off", to which he replied, "Yeah right! There wasnt anything particularly wrong with them. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. The wife of an airline employee who hijacked a plane in Seattle had recorded their seven happy years of marriage on Instagram, calling him 'the man who keeps me laughing'.. Richard Russell has . 2007-2023 He was very, very friendly automatically willing to bring everyone in, Hannah Holmes, who also participates in Young Life, told The Seattle Times. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. Who Is The 'Sky King' Richard Russell And How Did He Earn His Title? 2007-2023 Literally Media Ltd. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. It was a lie. Mona Lazar. Many saw Russell as a man suffering from depression and sympathized with him. Ah, minimum wage. Below are some of the clips. At another point, he says he's going to try to "do a barrel roll." Apparently someone stole a Horizon Q and is flying it over SeaTac. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. Never really knew it until now. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. Defying attacks, arts return to Somalia with first TV drama in 30 years, Divorced and remarried, these Afghan women are outlaws under Taliban rule. Russells social media accounts have become funeral guestbooks, digitized for the world. Speculation has swirled over Russells intent. After 29-year-old airline employee Richard B. Russell stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday night and crashed it into Ketron Island in Puget Sound, questions remain about why and how he undertook the ultimately fatal flight. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. One man wrote on Twitter, Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt that says "the sky's no limit." Weird times. We love you bud. Sep 09, 2022 at 02:47PM EDT Russell flew the plane around Seattle for an hour while National, New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident, Newly-obtained surveillance video from 2018 shows how Richard Russell, then a Horizon Ground service agent with no pilot experience, successfully stole the plane before crashing to his death. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Although official accounts other than through live aviation audio were hard to come by at first, many passengers took to social media to report that pilots were telling them a man had stolen a plane. Aw man, those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there, Rich says. The Port of Seattle released the video. Two F-15 fighter planes were scrambled to follow Rich, who eventually crashed into a wooded area a little over an hour after takeoff, killing only himself. Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. Thanks for contacting us. On his blog, Richard talks about how he and his wife once ran a bakery. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains). I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. They may not admit for a few days. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. However, late in the evening of August 10, 2018, tower audio indicated that some planes were being released. Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. You went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. [20], Videos and radio transmissions of the event were followed online, immediately sparking a meme dubbing Russell the "Sky King". Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. All Rights Reserved. SeaTac airport., Morgan Chesky, a reporter for KOMO News, wrote, Per JBLM source: After being contacted by F-15s, stolen plane began to nose dive, crashing in north Pierce County., NTSB investigator Debra Eckrote held a Saturday morning press conference, the day after the crash, and indicated that investigators are trying to determine what his process was and where the aircraft was going. She identified Rich as ground support so, you know, they have access to aircraft, and described it as lucky that the plane crashed on a very underpopulated island.. The plane was grounded for the night after returning from Victoria, B.C., which was its final scheduled flight of the day. The media also started sharing audio clips of ongoing conversations between Russell and an air traffic controller. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. Then, about an hour after he took off, Russell plunged into sparsely populated Ketron Island 25 miles southwest of the airport, sparking an intense fire. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. Sadly, he did not survive much longer at all. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed. Rainier. Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. "[22], The two F-15s attempted to direct the aircraft toward the Pacific Ocean, and did not fire at it. Richard Russell plane crash video was released. Subscribe to NBC News: nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC Watch more NBC video: bit.ly/MoreNBCNews NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news. The video shows Russell wearing a shirt that reads The skys no limit, as he passed through security at the airport, where he worked. Videos posted to social media showed the other side of his skills. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. The man who stole a commercial aeroplane in Seattle, and took his life by crashing it, has become a folk hero to neo-Nazi groups and incels, drafted into a poisonous delusion that is becoming mainstream. Russell was active in his local community, serving as a leader at Young Life, a Christian youth ministry. Horizon Q4 prop hijacked by unauthorized person not a pilot. Although investigators received information regarding Russell's background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russell's actions. We decided to sell and move in 2015, because we were both so far removed from our families. In July 2022, video was released that showed Russells last moments going through security, taking off in the plane, and communicating with air traffic control. Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go. He stated that he did not want to hurt anyone,[17][19] and in the final minutes of the communication apologized to his friends and family. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". 0:00. It's Been Almost 8 Years Since The 'Sad Satan' Phenomenon, And People Still Aren't Sure What Happened, If You're Always In The Passenger Seat, You Might Be A 'Passenger Princess', Controversial Ontario High School Teacher Placed On Leave By School Board, The 'Whatever' 'Dating Talk' Podcast Keeps Going Viral For 'Triggering' Its Young Woman Guests, 4chan Turns Disgraced Cartoonist Scott Adams Into A Meme. Hello, Love. I wouldnt want to do that. After attempting the aircraft took off, two F-15 fighter jets were deployed. Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said at a news conference Saturday that Russell worked for Horizon Air for four years and was on the clock and in uniform when he stole the twin-engine turboprop plane, which was parked in a cargo lot at the time. The crisis has engulfed the West as a whole. [5] It was not scheduled to fly again that day. He was 29 years old and a member of the ground crew at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, earning minimum wage. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire . Facebook/YouTube He spoke of wanting to do "a couple maneuvers to see what it [the aircraft] can do", and requested the coordinates of an orca that had been brought to national attention, saying, "I want to go see that guy." Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. Unclear if passengers are on board. Family Left Heartbroken After Airline Worker Steals and Crashes Plane. (More info in comments) 2 years ago today, Richard Russell, an airport ground service agent with no piloting experience, stole an Alaska Airlines Dash 8 and performed various stunts over the Puget Sound before crashing the plane on a sparsely populated island. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. On Instagram, Hannah Russell posted recent photos with Rich. [44], In the days after the crash, clean up and recovery crews contracted by Alaska Airlines and their insurers were present on the island to remove debris. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups. [39] He was an avid traveler and attended Washington State University Global Campus, majoring in social science. I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. Posted Sep 24, 2018. We believe there are no passengers on board. The incident led to a dramatic and tragic night on August 10, 2018, as aircraft were grounded at Sea-Tac while fighter jets followed the man and air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to help him land the aircraft. Powered by. | I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. At one point, Rich reported that he threw up all over the cockpit, according to the audio. Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. Richard "Beebo" Russell grew up in Alaska, but moved around and got married before he ended his life in Washington when he stole a passenger airplane and crashed it on a Puget Sound island. I met my husband when a friend sent him over to my house to cure my hiccoughs. Second, psychiatric diagnosis also suggests simple solutions to complex problems: If he did it because he was mentally ill, we need more widely available mental health services.. I just want you to whisper sweet nothings into my ear, said Rich, who claimed he could fly the plane because he played video games. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. [23] The Q400 ultimately crashed at 20:43 local time[1] on Ketron Island in Puget Sound, Pierce County, Washington, killing the occupant and destroying the aircraft. RIP to the SkyKing. The federal agencies will lead the investigation. 2:18. The story, despite seeming near-mythic, is true. Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. Purportedly, when the arresting officers asked why he had risked his life with such a stunt, he said, A man cant just sit around., Later, he told the press, It was something I had to do. [27], The Pierce County Sheriff's Office both thanked the public for its accurate information, and acknowledged on August 11 that federal agencies would be leading the investigation, primarily the Seattle office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. Acted alone he is 29 year old Pierce county residence. But as the cockpit recordings and videos of Russells antics spread, and Internet users uncovered his online postings, his final act drew both admirers and detractors. But after that apology, oblivion seemed like the only option left to him. Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget Sound . [4] The New York Times Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, [5] The Washington Post Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, [6] CBS News Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, [10] CNN Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, [14] 4chan Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi, At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. To download the mp3, right-click here and choose "save link as" or "save target as." Around 9 PM Pacific Time on August 10th, 2018, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell, stole a Q400 airplane from Seattle Tacoma International Airport and went for a joyride [] That means I lift a lot of bags so many bags, he says. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Newly released CCTV footage captures the harrowing moment a Washington state airport employee stole an Alaska Airlines plane and took it for a joyride before fatally crashing it. [45] The aircraft was worth $30million, all of which was paid under the company's insurance policy "with no deductibles. Russell, the sole occupant during the flight, did not survive. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport. For the full details on "Sky King" meme and viral story, be sure to check out our entry on the meme here for even more information. Oh, a purple one! Russell exclaimed. In the coming days, articles about the incident were published in The New York Times,[4] CBS News[6] and The Washington Post. It was recovered along with the cockpit voice recorder, authorities said Sunday, amid a streak of disintegrated debris. Published He and his wife Hannah started a bakery in Oregon in their early 20s, according to a 2012 story in a local paperthat depicted a happy, determined couple. "[43] Some co-workers said that Russell had probably trained himself to fly using amateur flight simulation software. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. Compilation of footage of the aircraft being flown erratically in the vicinity of Seattle, and the pursuing F-15s, News report featuring surveillance footage, Man Steals a Passenger Plane and Crashes it Just After Takeoff (With Real Video), Washington State University Global Campus, "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Preliminary Report Accident Number: WPR18FA220", "Update on Investigation into Unauthorized Flight", "Alaska Air Horizon plane crashes after being stolen by airline employee", "How it unfolded: Full coverage of the Horizon Air crash and the man who stole the plane from Sea-Tac", "Stolen plane was chased by military jets before it crashed", "Crash: Horizon DH8D at Ketron Island on Aug 10th 2018, stolen aircraft crashed into forest", "Stolen plane closes Seattle-Tacoma airport before crashing", "Oregon F-15s Scramble To Seattle To Intercept Possibly Stolen Q400 Airliner (Updated)", "F-15Cs Intercept Stolen DASH-8 Airliner out of Seattle Tacoma Airport Before Crash", "LIVE: Plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashes on small island; no passengers on board", "Pilot wanted to do aerobatics, apologized for his actions as he spoke with air traffic control", "NORAD F-15Cs intercept suicidal pilot in dramatic chase near Seattle", "Passenger Plane Stolen by Employee Crashes on Island Near Seattle Airport", "Seattle hijacker's plane heist, midair stunts and fiery crash expose gaps in aviation security", "Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Airline worker who stole plane told air traffic control 'I don't want to hurt no one', "SeaTac Hijacker Had the Skills to Take Out a Skyscraper Horizon Air ground handler Richard Russell knew how to fly without tearing the plane apartand enough fuel to be a flying bomb. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Richard Russell had a website that appears to have been for a college communications class. With this blog I hope to showcase all that Ive learned in Ms. Newmans Communications 210 class., His WordPress page includes a sketch that reads, Continuing with the theme of ground service work and travel benefits, I plan to create a simple logo that expresses both. What now? Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. The flight data recorder may show how well Russell managed the aircrafts myriad functions.
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