"So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. 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 FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. 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. Russell, who was a ground services employee for Horizon Air, sat in the plane's cockpit for nearly an hour and a half before the unauthorized takeoff. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! 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. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. 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. 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash.
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.
. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. So many bags," he said. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. Aug. 12, 2018. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. 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. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. July 13, 1994. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. July 4, 1986. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. he joked. He was immediately killed. Like a lot of bags. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. I don't know! It did not elaborate. 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. Airports nationwide will now look at whether their security procedures need to change, CNN safety analyst David Soucie said. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. They said it's not clear whether he had ever taken flight lessons or used flight simulators, or where he gained the skills to take off. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. 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? A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. 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. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. He was in the air for about an hour. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. 2023 Cox Media Group. What happened from then, left a. 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. Worlds Largest Passenger Aircraft Will Fly Again, Russia May Use Military Aircraft for Civilians, A Livestream of Planes Trying to Land at Heathrow, Why a New 5G Rollout Is Making Airlines Nervous, The Complicated History of the Very First Flight, The VTOL Future of Flight That Never Took Off. Discovery Company. 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. In the days leading up to the theft and subsequent crash, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong with him, investigators wrote in the updated report. 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. "I lift a lot of bags. "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. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. ", Referring to audio recordings of Russell talking to air traffic control during his hour-long flight, the statement said his "intent was not to harm anyone. May 23, 1969. . He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. 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. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 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. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. 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. A Warner Bros. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. He did not survive the crash. 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. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". They say says this is a complete shock. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. "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. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. 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. You know?". 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. I don't want to. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. "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.". ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". Late Friday, a Horizon Air employee believed to be Russell stole an empty turboprop plane, took off from SeaTac and crashed on Ketron Island, a small island in the Puget Sound that is home to about two dozen residents. So many bags," he said. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! 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. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. New video shows crash site of stolen plane 02:22 CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger. May 25, 2003. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. Im coming home! But it was not to be. 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. 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. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. "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.". Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. The jets were not involved in the crash, it 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 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. Playing What We Want In Seattle! 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. 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. 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. He was immediately killed. He was killed in the crash. 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 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. 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. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. 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 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. They said it's clear Russell didn't intend to harm anyone, and "he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him. The photos provided some of the most compelling images: tree trunks sheared in half by the impact of the crash and parts of the Horizon Air Q400 Turboprop littered throughout the debris field. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. I hope they can make it through this.". 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. / CBS/AP. 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. / CBS/AP. August 22, 1979. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. I don't know, man! Ah, dammit. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. 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. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he 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! "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. 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. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. 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. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? 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. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions.
