video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island All Rights Reserved. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. What happened from then, left a. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". 2023 Cable News Network. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.Connect with NBC News Online!NBC News App: https://smart.link/5d0cd9df61b80Breaking News Alerts: https://link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/breaking-news-signup?cid=sm_npd_nn_yt_bn-clip_190621Visit NBCNews.Com: http://nbcnews.to/ReadNBCFind NBC News on Facebook: http://nbcnews.to/LikeNBCFollow NBC News on Twitter: http://nbcnews.to/FollowNBC#Surveillance #Horizonair #hijacking 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane 02:22 CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger. 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! 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. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. "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. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. 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. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. / CBS/AP. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "Last night's event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline," Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, told a news conference Saturday. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. ", 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash 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. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane before fatal He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. 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. 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 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. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. He was in the air for about an hour. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. August 22, 1979. 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. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. .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. 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 footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. he joked. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. CCTV Footage Shows Baggage Handler Stealing Plane, Crashes On Island - TMZ I don't need that much help. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. "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. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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? In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. I don't want to. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. "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.". I've played some video games before, he said. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn 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. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. . 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. July 4, 1986. ", "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. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. 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 jets were not involved in the crash, it said. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". All rights reserved. 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. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. We may earn a commission from links on this page. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! Please enter valid email address to continue. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Discovery Company. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . . It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. 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. 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. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on It's Troublingly Common for Ground Crew Members To Steal Planes One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's 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. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. 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. 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. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident 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. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. 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. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. 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. 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. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 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. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. 2. 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. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. 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. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Did you encounter any technical issues? "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate 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. Family of man who stole, crashed plane 'stunned' - KJRH In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft.
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