Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. He was killed in the crash. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. / CBS/AP. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . 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. He was immediately killed. 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. 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. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! "Never really knew it till now," he said. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. Ah, dammit. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a 'compassionate' man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash By Alex Horton August 13, 2018 at 8:01 a.m. EDT A Horizon Air employee described as. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. 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. 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. 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. Discovery Company. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. I hope they can make it through this.". Like a lot of bags. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. "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. All Rights Reserved. Russell was "tow certified" and had full security access, and had been with the company for three and a half years, CBS News' Jamie Yuccas reports. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. 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? 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 . "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. 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. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". Start your Independent Premium subscription today. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. ", "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. Investigators "did not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology," according to a summary of the FBI report. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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. 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. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . 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. 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. 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. 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. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. Its not yet known exactly what pre-existing psychological conditions Russell may have had, but in the course of his conversation with air traffic controllers he expresses racial resentment. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. But the friendly tone of a 29-year-old airport worker who stole a commercial plane Friday night, performing acrobatic stunts before a fatal plunge into a thick island forest, belied his desperate actions. 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. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. 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. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. 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. 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. 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. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. 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. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. 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. ", 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. 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 . May 25, 2003. Scroll down to continue . You know?". "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. That includes both domestic and international flights. So many bags," he said. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. New surveillance. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Never really knew it until now.". "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. I've played some video games before, he said. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft.

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.

. They say says this is a complete shock. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. 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. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? 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. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. 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. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. "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.". Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! 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. among other things. Lastly, we've been reporting a lot only on the most famous case of suspected pilot suicide, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, and this weekend's tragedy bears at least a few similarities. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. "Congratulations. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, FBI probes how airline employee stole plane, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization, push us to learn what we can from this tragedy. I don't know, man! First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Recently fired airline mechanic Armando Nieto Jaramillo, 23, stole a military HS-748 transport plane from Bogot-Eldorado Airport and crashed it soon after takeoff, killing himself and three people on the ground. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. Nah, Im a white guy.. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. "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 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. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. 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. He did not survive the crash. A Warner Bros. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. "Oh man. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 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. 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 . The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . 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? "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. 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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. 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. 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. 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 An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. 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. 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. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. 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? 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. A beautifully-written Rolling Stone article published in summer of 2021 tells the story of Russells life up to the moment he towed the plane onto the runway and hopped in the cockpit, attempting to find meaning or motive to help explain why this goofy, God-fearing baggage handler decided to steal a plane he likely knew he couldnt successfully land. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! . Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. 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. 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "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.

Order Of The Golden Circle Ritual, Worthing Police Incident Today, Articles R