He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". 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. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "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. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. All Rights Reserved. New video released Wednesday shows what first responders found after a plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on a south Puget Sound island last August. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. So many bags," he said. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Ted Cruz calls for Fauci to be prosecuted in CPAC rant on Covid, George Santos under investigation by House Ethics committee, CDC sends warning after babys death linked to contaminated breast pump, Footage shows man stealing plane he crashed into a Washington island, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. I don't want to.

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.

. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. 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. "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.". The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. They say says this is a complete shock. So many bags," he said. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! 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. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. He did not survive the crash. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. He was immediately killed. 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 . He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. 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. 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. "He might have been talking to himself in the cockpit," so the voice recorder may provide additional information that wasn't recorded in radio traffic, she said. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Playing What We Want In Seattle! The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. The job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. .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. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. A Warner Bros. 2. Scroll down to continue . 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. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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. 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. 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. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. 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. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was a flight-sim enthusiast who is known to have taken a simulated flight path similar to the one authorities believe the plane ultimately took into the southern Indian Ocean. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. 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. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. 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! Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. That includes both domestic and international flights. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 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. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! Aug. 12, 2018. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "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. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. About to take off. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. 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. 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. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. Newly-released videos from the Port of Seattle show the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane nearly four years ago. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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? 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. I've played some video games before, he said. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. 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. "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. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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. There were no passengers aboard. 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. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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,. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. 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. 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. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. 7 months ago. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. 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. "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. A beautifully-written Rolling Stone article published in summer of 2021 tells the story of Russells life up to the moment he towed the plane onto the runway and hopped in the cockpit, attempting to find meaning or motive to help explain why this goofy, God-fearing baggage handler decided to steal a plane he likely knew he couldnt successfully land. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. 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. 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. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. 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. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. 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. 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. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. 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. 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. 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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. 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. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. 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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. Nah, Im a white guy.. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. 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. / CBS/AP. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. Like a lot of bags. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. 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. July 13, 1994. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Please enter valid email address to continue. May 25, 2003. 2023 Cox Media Group. He was in the air for about an hour. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. SEATAC, Wash. - It was a shocking scene above the Puget Sound, as Horizon Airlines employee Richard Russell stole and flew a turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport while air traffic tried to talk him . "He worked his shift yesterday, we believe he was in uniform, his job is to be around airplanes," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. The Pierce County Medical Examiners Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM 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. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. New surveillance. 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. 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. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. 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. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. "Oh man. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. August 22, 1979. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM 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. I hope they can make it through this.". The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, On the day of his tragic flight, Mr Russell wore a shirt that said The Sky is No Limit, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Air Traffic Control audio reveals conversation with man who stole Alaska Airlines plane. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. I don't need that much help. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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.

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