"He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel 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. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen 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. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Never really knew it until now.". Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. 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. Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee - CNN One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash.

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.

. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane "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. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge 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. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . 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 statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 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. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. 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. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. Nah, Im a white guy.. 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 . Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. Richard "Beebo" Russell (Screenshot from YouTube via AP) SEATTLE - The Horizon Air baggage handler who stole a commercial airplane from Sea-Tac Airport and took it for a 73-minute joy ride . 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 7 months ago. 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 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. Richard Russell: Man who stole SeaTac plane was warm and compassionate "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. among other things. New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! 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. 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. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. 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. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. 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. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". 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. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. 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. 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? Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. So many bags," he said. That includes both domestic and international flights. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident - Wikipedia New video shows crash site of stolen plane. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! 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. 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. 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. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! Richard Russell said he didn't need much help: 'I've played some video and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. Richard "Beebo" Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane from Sea-Tac Airport on Friday night, performed midair acrobatics over Puget Sound and then crashed into an island, was an. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Foote was an experienced glider pilot and had undergone 100 hours of simulator flying in the Skyhawk and had hoped to become a military pilot before his ambitions were derailed by health issues. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. 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. So many bags," he said. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! Discovery Company. 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. 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? He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. "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.". Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. July 13, 1994. 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. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. 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. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. I don't know, man! 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. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. 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 incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. 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. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." You did that. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden 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.". "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". 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. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. "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. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. 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. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane before fatal 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. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! There were no passengers aboard. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. 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. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash

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