In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. I played video games before so, you know, I know what Im doing a little bit., Man, Im sorry about this. Here's what we know about the man who joked with air traffic controllers before he brought the jet down. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. The plane started moving, but Russell jumped in the plane and took off. One air traffic controller called the man "Rich,"and tried to persuade him to land the airplane. But it allows me to do some pretty cool things, too, he added, segueing to footage of a flight tour over Ketchikan, Alaska, followed by images of several countries including France, Ireland and Mexico. 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 . To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The couple ran a bakery for three years before pulling up stakes and heading to the Seattle suburb of Sumner to be closer to Russells in-laws. Everything We Know About Richard Russell, the Man Who Stole and - Vice Officials were quick to point out that Russell, an employee of three and a half years with Alaska Airlines regional subsidiary Horizon Air, passed the background checks necessary to handle baggage and clean aircraft. Russell's family said they weredevastated in a short statement. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Russell was interviewing several unidentified co-workers about how they liked working at Horizon. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Russell was a ground-service agent at Horizon, part of a two-person tow team that turned around airplanes. Russell was a ground agent who had limited access to planes and towing equipment. In recordings of Mr. Russells remarkable conversation with air traffic controllers, he speaks admiringly of the Olympic Mountains at sunset, complains of lightheadedness and muses about potential prison time if he were to land the plane safely. SEATTLE The story is as bizarre as it is tragic: An airline worker who had no business being in a cockpit somehow took off from a major airport in a turboprop passenger plane, dipped and soared in the skies above the Seattle area, and then crashed into an island on Puget Sound. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there, Russell responded, later adding, "This is probably jail time for life, huh? Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget. Facebook Once I earn my Bachelors in Social Sciences I will either seek a management position where Im at now, or possibly join the military as an officer. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. Mr. Russell and his wife were active church members, Mr. Orr said, so he doesnt really fit the bill of someone who would steal an airplane., Funniest person in the room, he added. I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. Brown said the starting wage for ground-service agents was about $12 an hour. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. (If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). "As the voice recording show, Beebo's intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him," the statement read. He eventually ended up in Coos Bay, Oregon, where in 2010 he met a woman he married the following year. #SeaTac @king5 #ketron #dupont #andersonisland pic.twitter.com/78LC5PXKhU, Katreichel (@Katreichelart) August 11, 2018, The Sheriffs Department also wrote: Told F 15s made it within a few minutes of theft of plane. His plane, a Piper . It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement read. Theft and crash of Seattle airplane prompts FBI investigation, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. I hope they can make it through this.". 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, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted stunts in the air before the plane crashed. Seattle Times staff reporters Lewis Kamb and Agueda Pacheco-Flores and news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report. Although he didnt have a pilots license, Russell knew how to work the plane from his experience as an airport employee, the FBI previously said. "He was a quiet guy. We believe there are no passengers on board. The 29-year-old worked for Horizon Air, helping to handle luggage and towing aircraft. They said the family is moving forward with the difficult talk of processing our grief and asked for space to mourn. 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. The Sky Thief: Beebo Russell's Last Flight - Rolling Stone The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. Officials said the jet has since crashed after it was followed by F-15 fighter jets A \"SUICIDAL\" airline mechanic stole an empty Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac International Airport and was chased by military jets before crashing into a small island. He also quipped: "Hey, do you think if I land this successfully Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?". \"I lift a lot of bags. Other video shows him clocking in to work. They wont let anyone leave the airport while hes up there. "Oh man. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. Like a lot of bags. There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile, the controller says, referring to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It wouldnt be appropriate to speculate on his motives.. 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 . Saw two fighter jets fly overhead then smoke pic.twitter.com/w0bveGUJQH, McKenna Brown (@mckenna_brown) August 11, 2018, A man named Ben Schaechter wrote on Twitter, Halfway down the runway on Alaska airlines out of Seattle and the pilot slams on the brakes and shares we must go back to the gate. Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. 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. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport. #seatac., A woman named Robanne Stading wrote on Twitter, #seatac airport is on a ground halt because evidently a mechanic is flying an unauthorized flightseeing trip around the mtns. \"He was a quiet guy,\" Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in May told The Seattle Times. Its gonna be crazy, he said at one point in air traffic control transmissions. The Port of Seattle released the video. The incident led to a dramatic and tragic night on August 10, 2018, as aircraft were grounded at Sea-Tac while fighter jets followed the man and air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to help him land the aircraft. Russells former co-workers described Horizon as an often unpleasant place to work, where workers were pushed hard, underappreciated and carried a sense of grievance that they were paid less than SeaTacs much-publicized $15 an hour minimum wage. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. In his call to air traffic controllers, the man also described himself as having a "few screws loose" but didn't realise until now. Russell, 29, who worked for Horizon Air as a ground service agent, took off in an empty Q400 turboprop plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport without authorization at around 7:30 p.m.. In a frantic, seven-second dash, the husky. 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The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Russell, 29, was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska, when he was 7, according to a blog he created for an online communications class at Washington State University. I never thought I would work as a ground service agent, Russell wrote. At one point, Rich reported that he threw up all over the cockpit, according to the audio. I just dont understand.. I wouldnt want to do that. He attended Washington State Global University Campus from 2016-2017, seeking a bachelors degree in social science. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. Russell ended the section "about" section of the blog with his dreams for the future: Moving up to become a manager at Horizon Air or joining the military as an officer. Our heart is heavy for the family and friends of the person involved.. Keep the aircraft nice and low, the tower responded to the man at one point, advising him to keep it over the water. Former co-workers describe a quiet, friendly guy who read a lot and liked the free travel perks that came with working for an airline. The Russell he knew had always been a jokester, the class clown. Russell says on the blog that he liked his job because it allowed him to travel back to Alaska to see his family. He said he met "Hannah" in Coos Bay, Oregon and, in 2011, the pair got married. Our focus continues to be supporting our employees, providing support for his family and cooperating fully with the investigation, Horizon spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said. The Man Who Stole The Plane From Seattle Airport And Crashed It Was A "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.". CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. You can listen to more archived aviation audio on the incident here, some of which captures the mans voice: READ NEXT: TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. But the consequences of the unauthorized flight on Friday evening are monumental, aviation experts and investigators said. MECHANIC Richard Russell stole a passenger plane before performing loop-the-loops and crashing into an island. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. I just want you to whisper sweet nothings into my ear, said Rich, who claimed he could fly the plane because he played video games. As the voice recordings show, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone. So many bags,\" he said.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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. August 13, 2018, 6:50pm. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. He was a faithful husband, a loving son, and a good friend. Was doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills caused crash into Island. The Sheriffs Department added, Two military F 15 chased plane but was not involved in crash and confirmed, No passengers on plane.. Russells family has declined to comment beyond a statement issued the day after the crash. #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo. As a flight controller tried to persuade him to land, he wondered aloud about whether he had enough fuel to make it to the Olympics, talked of the beautiful view, and said he had a lot of people who cared about him, apologizing for what he was doing. 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. Then, it segues into a montage of photos from Russells trips to Alaska, France, Ireland, and other places before ending with a scene from a family gathering. Male is confirmed a suicidal male. Ive played some video games before., In a later exchange, reported by the Wall Street Journal, Russell said: I know how to put the landing gear down. He then added: I really wasnt planning on landing it.. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM For other inquiries, Contact Us. I think I might mess something up there too. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon ground operations employee by the name of Richard Bryan Russell Jr., stole a $32,000,000 Horizon Q400 airplane, N449QX, from t. bit.ly/subAIRBOYD Various scanner recordings from liveatc.net and broadcastify.com SEA Ground, Tower, Departure/Approach. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. In July 2022, video was released that showed Russells last moments going through security, taking off in the plane, and communicating with air traffic control. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very . Newly Released Video Shows the Moment Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac Russell, a Seattle airport employee, took an empty Horizon Air passenger plane on a joyride that ended in a fatal . We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. pic.twitter.com/5z4BYRBrcU, Kierra Elfalan (@KierraElfalanTV) August 12, 2018. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Mary Schiavo, an aviation attorney and former inspector general of the Department of Transportation, noted that pilots are never alone in the cockpit, always required to be joined by a colleague, but ground-service agents enter the cockpit alone, with their partner driving the pushback tractor on the ground. Richard Russell: 'Heartbroken' family of Seattle airline employee Richard Russell speaking with an air traffic controller at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Weird times. So many bags," he said. I enjoy that it is a physical job with a lot of different tasks you can partake in. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. The crash occurred because the 29-year-old man was \"doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills,\" the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. 'He was loved by everyone' - 'heartbroken' family pays tribute to man Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. When he saw smoke rising from the woods, he realized the worst had happened. "I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. There were no other passengers on board. We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now., It added Russell was a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend., News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. But, she said, that didnt happen. Facebook/YouTube Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. There were no passengers aboard. On social media, Richard Russell quickly became something of a folk hero, but people also felt sadness and empathy for his pain and his plight. He played football and competed in track and field at Wasilla High School, according to a local newspaper, graduating in 2008. Harrowing audio revealed Russell joking with the controllers who begged him to land the 76-seater plane before it nosedived and burst into a fireball 25 miles away. He is believed to have died when the plane crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, setting off a large forest fire. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. He moved to Coos Bay, Oregon, attending Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he met Hannah Stracener at a church gathering in 2010. More: How did an airline worker manage to steal a commercial aircraft? Russell, who was widely identified as the pilot on Saturday morning, was the sole victim in the crash. The jet took off at 7.32pm local time on August 10, 2018. Pilots wonder how plane thief learned to do aerial acrobatics, Sea-Tac Airport's security challenge: 12,600 people have access to aircraft, Sea-Tac officials, airlines to meet Monday to discuss security protocols after turboprop heist, "We were all screaming, 'Oh my god": How the Horizon Air theft and crash unfolded, Sea-Tac air traffic controller faced 'one in a million' scenario with stolen plane, SeaTacs much-publicized $15 an hour minimum wage. They moved to Sumner in 2015, to be nearer to her family, Russell wrote on the blog, and he got a job working for Horizon Air. They owned a bakery shop and settled down in Sumner, Washington, in 2015, which is when he got his job at Horizon Air. Myself, my friends, everybody, weve been talking to each other and were all like, Why? I dont understand.. HiIm a ground service agent. I got a lot of people that care about me. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. That means I lift a lot of bags, he said. This is a complete shock to us. 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. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. It didnt sit well with people, Brown said. Apparently someone stole a Horizon Q and is flying it over SeaTac. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. He had worked his shift on Friday. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 2 dead, 1 critically wounded in shooting at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, Think Seattle-area property taxes are rising fast? The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Airplane theft, as opposed to hijacking taking over control in flight, with passengers aboard is actually not uncommon, though it usually involves private aircraft, not commercial airliners. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was owner/operator of Hannah Maries Bakery from 2012 through 2015 in North Bend, Oregon. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement said. [8/10/2018]Alaska Airlines has confirmed there was an 'unauthorized take-off' of a plane at Seattle-Tacoma Airport in Washington State. \"Most importantly,\" he said in a voice over about his job, \"I get to visit those I love most. Fan, who last saw his childhood friend last year when they met up for a night of pizza and beer in Las Vegas, said the travel benefits were important to Russell. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. About to take off. It was all over in about an hour. About to take off. Patch confirmed there was a security incident underway at SeaTac. field office in Seattle, which is leading the investigation, said it would cast a wide net in finding out what happened and why. It read: This is a complete shock to us. He played athletics in high school in Wasilla, Alaska. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. They are grounding all planes and waiting. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.. It evens out in the end.\" The plane crashed on Ketron Island in the south Puget Sound.Richard Russell \"Beebo's\" Original Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ765Fnec8QMusic credit: https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlasNational Suicide Prevention LifelineCall 1-800-273-8255Available 24 hours everyday At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. Mr. Russell. Weird times., CBS News reporter Kris Van Cleave wrote, FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle. He shared a tweet from a woman named Victoria, who wrote, Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. This story has been shared 223,578 times. The F.B.I. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. And Russells description of himself on the cockpit audio just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess, never really knew it until now is at odds with Fans memories of his friend. It was not immediately clear how Mr. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, had managed to take off in the plane. In the statement where it says its a complete shock, its just 100 percent true, Odell said. Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. On his blog, Richard talks about how he and his wife once ran a bakery. Its gonna be crazy, he tells traffic control, according to the video provided to local Seattle news outlet KOIN. So many bags," he said. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. The thief, Richard "Beebo" Russell, had just disconnected the tow bar of a tug vehicle he'd used to pivot the plane out of its parking spot. The mans bizarre and ultimately doomed flight pushed fighter planes into action. Seattle Airport surveillance video shows man stealing passenger plane A plane has been stolen from Seattle-Tacoma international airport by an employee and crashed nearby, authorities have confirmed after flights were grounded in a major security incident.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.

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