Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. 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. 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. 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? 2023 Cable News Network. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. "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.". 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. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. 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. 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. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Aug. 12, 2018. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. So many bags," he said. 2. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. It evens out in the end.". The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? appreciated. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. 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 "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. he joked. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. Like a lot of bags. 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. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. There were no passengers aboard. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. 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. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. 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. 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. ", 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. 2023 Cox Media Group. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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.". He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Video released to KOMO News from the Port of Seattle capture the final moments of Richard Russell who took a Horizon Air plane from SeaTac Airport without authorization, performed acrobatic. 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. On his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he said he was from Wasilla, Alaska; lived in Sumner, Washington; and was married in 2012. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. 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 . "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. 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. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." 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.". The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. 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. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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. 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. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. He was immediately killed. 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. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. "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.". "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.". President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. 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. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was killed when. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. That includes both domestic and international flights. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM 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. / CBS/AP. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. 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 man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. .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. 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. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . 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. It did not elaborate. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Video from a witness on the ground shows the plane at one point pulling up for a loop, putting the aircraft upside-down and then pulling back up just feet above a body of water. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. "Our hearts are with the families of the individual aboard as well as all of our Alaska Air and Horizon Air employees," said Constance von Muehlen, the airline's chief operating officer. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. 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 .
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