Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. Why did I do it? There wasnt anything particularly wrong with them. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains). steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner. It was recovered along with the cockpit voice recorder, authorities said Sunday, amid a streak of disintegrated debris. We had a ground stop for quite a while here, a dispatcher says. Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. You seemed like a nice guy and a hell of a natural pilot., Seattle hijackers plane heist, midair stunts and fiery crash expose gaps in aviation security. I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. "[21] When an air traffic controller requested he land the plane after this maneuver, he said "I don't know. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. It was worth it, he said, to conveniently travel to Alaska, where he grew up, to visit family. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. August 10, 2021 by Kirk Forlatt. [31][32] On August 12, the FBI said that it had recovered the flight data recorder along with components of the cockpit voice recorder. Facebook/YouTube Its gonna be crazy, he said at one point in air traffic control transmissions. Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said at a news conference Saturday that Russell worked for Horizon Air for four years and was on the clock and in uniform when he stole the twin-engine turboprop plane, which was parked in a cargo lot at the time. He would take my shifts if I needed. [24] Delayed by the SteilacoomAnderson Island ferry, firefighters from West Pierce Fire and Rescue and other nearby departments arrived on the island about an hour and a half after the crash, where they then contended with the island's thick brush. This story has been shared 176,044 times. [4][13] A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling tanker was also scrambled from Fairchild Air Force Base to support the F-15 flight. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. I wouldnt want to do that. In another moment, Russell said he was lightheaded and talked about adjusting the cabin pressure, but it was not clear whether he was able to do that. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. . Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. He and his wife had owned a bakery in Oregon but sold it to move closer to her family. On October 6, 1993, now aged 44, he hiked into the Angeles National Forest and died by self-inflicted gunshot. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash. [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". He was 29 years old and a member of the ground crew at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, earning minimum wage. [12] His flight pattern was also shared online, with Twitter[13] user @RMaons writing, "SKY KING 2.0 ON FLIGHT RADAR, AIRCRAFT IS CALLED KING AIR LOOOL" (shown below, right). After 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 about why and how he undertook the ultimately fatal flight. On July 2, 1982, a . In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington, Russell wrote about himself and his wife online. Among the memes are images of Wojaks veering off into the sunset alongside quotes from Russell, a selfie of Russell sitting in the cockpit of the plane and video edits using audio clips from the conversation between Russell and the air traffic controller mixed with sad music and effects to emphasize the tragedy behind the event. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. Never really knew it until now. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport. [36] He had been part of a tow team, which repositions aircraft on the airport apron, for about four years. Im praying for #Rich tonightnot just the guy who stole a plane from #SeaTac, but every guy like Rich who (it seemsbut Ill admit Im assuming a lot here) is suffering and cannot find a better way out. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, flew the plane for 73 minutes before crashing it into remote Ketron Island, which has fewer than 20 residents. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. As Melville noted, We are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending., Be wary of simple explanations of any human behavior, and of simple solutions for complex problems. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. He left no children. "[22], The two F-15s attempted to direct the aircraft toward the Pacific Ocean, and did not fire at it. Phillip Hamilton. Published He attended Washington State Global University Campus from 2016-2017, seeking a bachelors degree in social science. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Russell told controllers midflight that he played video games in preparation, but it was not clear whether he meant flight simulators some of which are commercially available and depict exhaustive and realistic measures to start an aircraft. Beck said the aerial maneuvers were "incredible" and that he "did not know how [Russell] achieved the experience that he did. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. Luke Adams ? Sadly, he did not survive much longer at all. 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. 2007-2023 Yay air force . Newly released CCTV footage captures the harrowing moment a Washington state airport employee stole an Alaska Airlines plane and took it for a joyride before fatally crashing it. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from SeattleTacoma International Airport (SeaTac) in Seattle, Washington. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. Someone plucked a bag off a conveyor belt. Facebook Richard Russell plane crash video was released. He did it because he was depressed. As David Hume observed, our brains habitually seek out causation and are restless until a cause, even an erroneous cause, is determined. Authorities said they did not believe he had a pilots license. Hello, Love. He had planned to seek a management position at Horizon Air or become a military officer after receiving his degree. After listening many times to the recordings, I found his voice - alternately warm, scared, and funny - to . 0. We love you bud. [6], The aircraft was stolen from Plane Cargo 1 at the north end of SeaTac Airport[6] and maneuvered to runway 16C via taxiways. #iflyalaska #akedchat.. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington. We believe there are no passengers on board. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? Its gonna be crazy, he tells traffic control, according to the video provided to local Seattle news outlet KOIN. Pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe. Residents of the island bore some of the cost for cleaning up, and negotiations were initiated for their reimbursement by Alaska Airlines' insurers. All Rights Reserved. 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. Ah, minimum wage. He met his wife, Hannah, in 2010 in Coos Bay, Oregon while we were both going to school, and the couple wed one year later, Russell wrote on his website. Together, they started a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. He is flying around the airport, he does not know how to land it. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Failing to convince Hannah of Alaskas greatness, we settled on Sumner because of its close proximity to her family., Richard added, I, meanwhile, obtained a job working for Horizon Airlines (partnered with Alaska Airlines) so Im able to fly to Alaska at my leisure. It was a lie. The man, known as Rich in air traffic control audio and dubbed the sky king on Twitter, broke hearts on social media as people followed the unauthorized flight before it came to a fatal end. USA TODAY. [4][6][9] A tow boat crew was the first to respond. He had broken up with his girlfriend of 15 years and was having trouble finding steady work. [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. The mans bizarre and ultimately doomed flight pushed fighter planes into action. At one point, he explained that he did not know how to follow instructions to punch in data or how to assess his fuel consumption after takeoff. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long, another said. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Teachers are quitting and they will have no one to run their schools, but they still won't give in and support solutions that would hurt property values. After he landed, Mr. Walters was arrested and charged with unlawful operation of an aircraft within a controlled air traffic area. Patch confirmed there was a security incident underway at SeaTac. Live aviation audio from the tower said, at one point, that dispatchers were urging Rich Russell to try to land that airplane safely and not hurt anybody while dealing with a snarl of stalled planes on the ground. "[43] Some co-workers said that Russell had probably trained himself to fly using amateur flight simulation software. She foiled their plans. Meanwhile, various tributes to Russell were uploaded to YouTube (shown below). The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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. 1:10. I dont want to hurt no one. Glenn Sullivan, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the Virginia Military Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lexington, Virginia. The flight data recorder may show how well Russell managed the aircrafts myriad functions. According to Eckrote, the plane is highly fragmented and she said that a background investigation is underway to further clarify Richs motive. Russell, the sole occupant during the flight, did not survive. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire on him, authorities said. He flew around as an air traffic controller calmly tried to reason with him. What happened from then, left a. We know who he is. [1][7][8][9] In response, two McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles of the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing under the command of NORAD[10] were scrambled at around 20:15 local time[11] from Portland Air National Guard Base to intercept it. The statement, he added, was the only one that will be released. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. "What can you expect," some said, "when you take people whose great-great-grandparents were pioneers, grizzly bear hunters, and city-builders and make them baggage handlers, call center operators, and sales clerks?" He was married and completing a bachelors degree. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. The plane was grounded for the night after returning from Victoria, B.C., which was its final scheduled flight of the day. Mona Lazar. Periodically, his voice cut into the dispatches. His conversation with controllers revealed limited experience. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Seattle-Tacoma Intl. The wife of an airline employee who hijacked a plane in Seattle had recorded their seven happy years of marriage on Instagram, calling him 'the man who keeps me laughing'.. Richard Russell has . After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. Would love your thoughts, please comment. This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and . She posted a series of selfies showing the couple on various adventures. Privacy, Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was on meth.. He also posted audio clips of interviews he conducted to SoundCloud for what appears to have been a multimedia college class. Richard Russell, AKA Rich, the man who took the Sea-Tac plane and crashed it. Never really knew it, until now.". Never actually wanted to hurt anyone. Hearing a diagnosis would comfort them somehow. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. This video is not meant to glamorize suicide. Unclear if passengers are on board. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Acted alone he is 29 year old Pierce county residence. Powered by. 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. You can listen to all of his SoundCloud clips here. SeaTac airport., Morgan Chesky, a reporter for KOMO News, wrote, Per JBLM source: After being contacted by F-15s, stolen plane began to nose dive, crashing in north Pierce County., NTSB investigator Debra Eckrote held a Saturday morning press conference, the day after the crash, and indicated that investigators are trying to determine what his process was and where the aircraft was going. She identified Rich as ground support so, you know, they have access to aircraft, and described it as lucky that the plane crashed on a very underpopulated island.. #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. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. He somehow managed to execute a barrel roll and a few other aerobatic maneuvers before crashing the aircraft onto a sparsely populated island, killing only himself. Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. Then, about an hour after he took off, Russell plunged into sparsely populated Ketron Island 25 miles southwest of the airport, sparking an intense fire. Others saw his opinions on certain topics as based. You can watch the video above. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. I hope it doesnt ruin your day. Up until then, he had seemed torn between life and death, at least considering the possibility of attempting a landing or ditching the aircraft in the sea. But he mentioned video games during his recorded conversation with air traffic control, which some have taken as a reference to flight simulator software. 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.). Tilden said that air traffic control was immediately aware that Russells take off in the aircraft was an unauthorized departure.. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. [15] He said he was a "broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. It had first flown in 2012 and was delivered new to Horizon Air in the same year. Britain is in the grip of a male suicide crisis. As the voice recording shows, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him.. Russell flew the plane around Seattle for an hour while National, New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident, 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. Richard Russell, AKA Rich or Beebo Russell, was named as the airport mechanic who stole a Horizon plane at Sea-Tac and crashed it. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. This story has been shared 110,450 times. Theres something wrong with all of us. These statements should probably be considered the emotional projections of similarly disaffected people. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. His conversation and tone is very casual. Other audio reported a ground stop was underway at SeaTac, the airport that services Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. But is true.., Here is a statement from the family of Richard Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane, crashed it into Ketron Island.This is a complete shock to us. | 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 . Audio released of Russells conversation with an air traffic controller suggests that he was struggling with mental health issues, but his motive for stealing the plane remains unclear. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. As of 2019[update], this clean up effort was still ongoing, with pieces of aircraft wreckage still being located on the island after the first anniversary of the incident. HiIm a ground service agent. He appeared regretful about the pain he knew would inevitably visit his family. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. [29] An operational supervisor for Horizon Air described Russell as "a quiet guy" who was "well liked by the other workers". As part of his job, Patterson was responsible for fuelling the aircraft. According to suicide prevention expert, Dr. Christine Moutier, middle-aged White men account for 70% of deaths from suicide each year.