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. 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". We may earn a commission from links on this page. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. The FBI has recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon aircraft that crashed onto Ketron Island Friday night. July 4, 1986. I hope they can make it through this.". Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. "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. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. 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.". 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. 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. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. In audio recordings released over the internet, Russell can be heard chatting in an upbeat, enthusiastic tone with the air traffic controllers trying to talk him down. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . 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. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. I don't need that much help. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. 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. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". 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. 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He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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! He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. 2023 Cox Media Group. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. The Associated Press contributed to this report. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. 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. .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. 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. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. There were no passengers aboard. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. 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 . Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. 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. Aug. 12, 2018. 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. Siddiq Saunderson Moved to L.A. and Immediately Bought a Prius, Millennials and Zillennials Can't Get Enough of Manual Transmissions, Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus (Lifetime Subscription), Tesla Investor Day 2023 Was Pretty Great if You Ignored Elon. Like a lot of bags. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. 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. July 13, 1994. Onlooker John Waldron took video that shows the plane rolling inverted at low altitude, then pulling into a half-loop in a aerobatic high-g maneuver called a split S. Whether through skill or luck, Russell managed to pull the plane out of its rapid descent just above the wave tops. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. That includes both domestic and international flights. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. 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. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. He did not survive the crash. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. . The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. ", "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. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? We may earn commission if you buy from a link. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. 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. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." 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. 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. 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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. Did you encounter any technical issues? John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. What happened from then, left a. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 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. 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? 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. appreciated. 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. NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Investigators work to determine how a man was able to pilot a stolen plane. 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. Playing What We Want In Seattle! "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. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". He said he wanted to create projects showing the contrast between his hard work on the ground and his high-flying free time traveling the globe. So many bags," he said. Scroll down to continue . Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. 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. 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. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. 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, Officials say man who stole plane was suicidal. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. So many bags," he said. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. That's just not safe.". You know?". Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle, Washington, and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight,. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . May 25, 2003. Like a lot of bags. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt.

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.

. New surveillance. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. 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. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. "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. 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. 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.