Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. Also see | Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. 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. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. "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. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Investigators said Richard Russell worked alone when he was working as a ground service agent for the airline, and that he towed the turboprop out a hanger, climbed into the cockpit, and took off. 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. Video captures Richard Russell doing tricks in stolen Horizon Air plane Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. The 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 . This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. It seemed like such miserable work and I never could imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to all the constant noise, gas fumes, and heavy lifting. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. 7 months ago. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. 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. The Sky Thief Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Gone Viral: What 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. That includes both domestic and international flights. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Richard Russell: quiet, well-liked Seattle airport worker who stole a plane Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane - HITC Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. 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? "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". July 13, 1994. 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. 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. He said he wanted to create projects showing the contrast between his hard work on the ground and his high-flying free time traveling the globe. I've played some video games before, he said. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. "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. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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 incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. "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.". President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. Like a lot of bags. All rights reserved. I hope they can make it through this.". Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik 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. There were no passengers aboard. 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. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Im coming home! But it was not to be. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. 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 . "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" among other things. 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 .

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.

. It evens out in the end.". His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. 2023 Cable News Network. Like a lot of bags. "Never really knew it till now," he said. 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. The whole saga took place late on a Friday night in the west-coast time zone; by Monday morning, the constant news churn of the middle years of the Trump presidency seemed to have pushed any follow-up coverage of the Horizon Air crash out of the headlines. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. He did not survive the crash. It's Troublingly Common for Ground Crew Members To Steal Planes 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. Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 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? Potential targets included tens of thousands of fans assembling at Safeco Field, about 12 miles away, for a sold-out Pearl Jam concert just as he took off. 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. Sky King (RE-POST with new footage) || The Day an Airline Employee A Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "I lift a lot of bags. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. "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. A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, In audio recordings released over the internet, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. 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. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Did you encounter any technical issues? Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident 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. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! New surveillance. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. 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.