", "I've got a lot of people that care about me, and it's going to disappoint them to hear that I did this," Russell says. appreciated. 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. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and maintenance area for the night after arriving from Victoria, British Columbia, earlier in the day. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. It was one of the strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018: A baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport moseyed onto the tarmac, hopped in an unoccupied Horizon Air passenger plane, taxied to an empty runway, and took off. Because there were no passengers or crew aboard the plane, it wasnt considered a hijacking, and authorities response to the event seems to indicate that nobody ever expected an airport employee to hop in a plane and go for a ride with no apparent intent to terrorize, kill, or even make a greater statement. 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. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . I don't want to. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 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. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. 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. Family and friends try to reconcile Richard Russell's action with the May 25, 2003. Newly released CCTV footage shows airport employee Richard Russell stealing an Alaska Airlines plane before fatally crashing it into a Washington island, the New York Post reports . I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. "Congratulations. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. 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. "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. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work!

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.

. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. So many bags," he said. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she 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. 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. New video shows crash site of stolen plane | CNN 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. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident 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! U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. 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. "Our hearts are with the families of the individual aboard as well as all of our Alaska Air and Horizon Air employees," said Constance von Muehlen, the airline's chief operating officer. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. / CBS/AP. The body camera and cell phone video shows firefighters climbing through dense brush and fallen trees to get to the crash site on Ketron Island. Details of man who sources say stole airplane from Sea-Tac, Officials: Man who stole plane, died in crash not a pilot, Woman faces decades in prison after lying about murder, Do you have an investigative story tip? As he flew the stolen 76-seat passenger plane above the Seattle area for nearly an hour on Friday night, Richard B. Russell was asked by an air . 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. Mr Russell was at times jovial at one point he assured SeaTac's tower that he didn't need help controlling the airplane because he had played some video games and questioned if it could do a backflip and was at others melancholic. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. "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. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM New video of 2018 Horizon Air plane heist at Sea-Tac | king5.com Richard Russell: Authorities don't believe man who stole Dash-8 Q400 All Rights Reserved. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. "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. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. New video shows fiery scene of stolen plane crash on Ketron Island Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. 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. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. That's just not safe.". You did that. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. New surveillance. 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. Never really knew it until now.". 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. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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. 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. 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. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. 2. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". The reason I left is in February of 2016 they were short staffed and they had me run three planes in the same time, Reeves said. 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. 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. Richard Russell Stole a Plane in Seattle and Crashed It. How'd He Learn NORAD scrambled two F-15 to try to shepherd Russell away from populated areas of Seattle, but at 8:46 PM, Russell crashed the plane into an uninhabited part of Ketron Island in Puget Sound. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Remains of airline worker who stole, crashed plane found on island in 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. 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. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. "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. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! Security footage shows man stealing plane he later crashed into a Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. July 13, 1994. Nah, Im a white guy.. FBI recovers flight recorder, Richard Russell's remains from stolen The Associated Press contributed to this report. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. I don't need that much help. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. "If you're going to access the aircraft you make sure that you check with someone else, and that someone else (will confirm) that you have the right authority to get onto that aircraft.". "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Ah, dammit. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. 2023 Cox Media Group. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. 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. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Newly released CCTV footage shows airport employee Richard Russell stealing an Alaska Airlines plane before fatally crashing it into a Washington island, the New York Post reports. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle | Heavy.com He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Who Was Richard Russell? Man Steals Airplane and Crashes | Time Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". So many bags," he said. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.