The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. So many bags," he said. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. "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. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. 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. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. 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. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. August 22, 1979. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. July 13, 1994. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. "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.". Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. What happened from then, left a. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? 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. 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. He did not survive the crash. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. . Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Richard Russell Posted a Video on YouTube About Being a Baggage Handler Play VideoVideo related to richard russell, 'rich': 5 fast facts you need to know 2018-08-11T15:04:15-04:00 In a. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. / CBS/AP. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. All rights reserved. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. I don't want to. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. 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. . The newly published video, coupled with Rolling Stones detailed reconstruction of the events of August 10, 2018, paint the picture of a cheerful, gregarious fellow. .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. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. 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. 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 eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. "There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile," the controller says, reffering to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 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? F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. 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. I don't know, man! Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. among other things. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. 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 He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". So many bags," he said. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. You did that. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport .
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.
. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". appreciated. 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. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. About to take off. "In this plane, he certainly knew how to retract the landing gear, he coordinated both engines, powered them up to get a coordinated takeoff," she said. 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 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. 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. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. 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. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. 2. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". 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. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. "Last night's event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline," Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, told a news conference Saturday. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. Airline and Seattle airport officials revealed the following at a news conference Saturday: In audio recordings of the incident posted on Broadcastify, Russell can be heard talking to air traffic controllers as they try to guide him to land the plane. I don't know! 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. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. "Congratulations. "We heard the jet because our windows were down while we were waiting in the ferry line to go to Anderson Island, which is adjacent to Ketron Island.". 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. July 4, 1986. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . 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. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. He was in the air for about an hour. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. 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. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. 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. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 2023 Cable News Network. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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! 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. 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. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. They say says this is a complete shock. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. 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. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. "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. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. The Associated Press contributed to this report. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. 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. I've played some video games before, he said. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! 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. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Did you encounter any technical issues? It evens out in the end.". After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". 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. Aug. 12, 2018. I hope they can make it through this.". I don't need that much help. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips.