(@luketadams) August 11, 2018. I think I might mess something up there too. On Friday, 29-year-old Richard Russell, a ground employee at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, managed to sneak onto an empty commercial aircraft and took it for an . "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" He also enrolled at WSU, and graduated in 2017 with a degree in social sciences, the registrar said. Happening right now. 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 south-west of the airport. He was always smiling.. Alio Fan woke up last Saturday morning and clicked on a voice recording someone had sent him. Damnit Andrew, peoples lives are at stake here, Rich said at one point in the audio, which you can listen to later in this article. Criss said that Russell never talked about planes or flying as a kid. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. Richard Russell raised pilot's suspicions a year before Sea-Tac plane heist, 'Video games'? I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. You had people up working in the restaurants, everybody else at the airport made $15.. The airline confirmed that an unauthorized take-off occurred. 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. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups.. The couple ran a bakery for three years before pulling up stakes and heading to the Seattle suburb of Sumner to be closer to Russells in-laws. Horizon declined to discuss wages either for Russell or for his employment position and didnt answer questions about the workplace culture or complaints raised by employees. 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He moved to Coos Bay, Oregon, attending Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he met Hannah Stracener at a church gathering in 2010. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. As the voice recordings show, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who love him.. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. It makes me cringe,"he said. This story has been shared 223,578 times. I dont know how he achieved the experience he did.. Simulator software that can run on a home computers and realistically replicates the performance of aircraft systems is readily available, according to air-safety experts. He is believed to have died when the plane crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, setting off a large forest fire. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. But Debra Eckrote, the chief of the northwest regional office of the National Transportation Safety Board, said on Saturday that it was conceivable that a ground service agent would be able to start an airplane. Richard Russell at his job as a ground service agent. It was all over in about an hour. He has buzzed Mt Rainer and the Seattle area. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. (If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). They said the family is moving forward with the difficult talk of processing our grief and asked for space to mourn. Listen to his final moments as he talks back and forth with air traffic control. #SeaTac @king5 #ketron #dupont #andersonisland pic.twitter.com/78LC5PXKhU, Katreichel (@Katreichelart) August 11, 2018, The Sheriffs Department also wrote: Told F 15s made it within a few minutes of theft of plane. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. About to take off. Russell said on the aviation audio, This is probably jail time for life, huh? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. They tried to recreate The Lord of the Rings and invented a game called poop ball, that involved paint, spinning chairs, a crutch and an oar. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. Weird times., CBS News reporter Kris Van Cleave wrote, FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle. He shared a tweet from a woman named Victoria, who wrote, Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. Its gonna be crazy, he said at one point in air traffic control transmissions. This is going to be hilarious.'. Facebook/YouTube The mans bizarre and ultimately doomed flight pushed fighter planes into action. The couple ran a bakery for three years before moving to the Seattle suburb of Sumner to be closer to Russells in-laws. Richard Russell had a website that appears to have been for a college communications class. But it allows me to do some pretty cool things, too, he added, segueing to footage of a flight tour over Ketchikan, Alaska, followed by images of several countries including France, Ireland and Mexico. Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. I hope this doesnt ruin your day, he said to the controller, adding that he was grateful to be kept away from other aircraft. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. An airline employee stole an empty plane that he eventually crashed into an island near Seattle's Sea-Tac airport. \"It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. "He was a quiet guy. View our online Press Pack. Never really knew it until now.. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Here's what we know about the man who joked with air traffic controllers before he brought the jet down. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Other video shows him clocking in to work. Tim Orr, who also works at the Seattle-Tacoma airport, and who said he had known Mr. Russell since they were both 12, said his friend had been frustrated that his airport job did not pay the $15 minimum wage that many other airport workers receive, and had talked about leaving to do something else. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. He was regularly alone in cockpits, for stretches that ranged from 10 to 45 minutes. I played video games before so, you know, I know what Im doing a little bit., Man, Im sorry about this. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. At one point, an air traffic controller asked if Mr. Russell felt comfortable flying. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. We've received your submission. August 13, 2018, 6:50pm. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Richard Russell plane crash video was released. On behalf of the family, we are stunned and heartbroken. They married a year later and then opened a bakery that they ran together for three years. Quite a scary experience. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. field office in Seattle, which is leading the investigation, said it would cast a wide net in finding out what happened and why. Powered by. Like a lot of bags. Plane is a Q4. It was hard to sleep last night. As an airline employee, he wrote: Im able to fly at my leisure. Russell captured some of his travels to France, Mexico and across the United States in a video uploaded to YouTube in December. Seattle Times staff reporters Lewis Kamb and Agueda Pacheco-Flores and news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether it is a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington.. On social media, Richard Russell quickly became something of a folk hero, but people also felt sadness and empathy for his pain and his plight. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. One air traffic controller called the man "Rich,"and tried to persuade him to land the airplane. 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 I would like to dedicate this blog to the life of a ramper and highlight the remarkable contrast between our work and rest.. Rainier. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very . The NTSB is now processing the equipment. Russells family has declined to comment beyond a statement issued the day after the crash. He is believed to have died when the plane crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, setting off a large forest fire. ", Hear audio conversation leading up to Seattle plane crash. SeaTac airport., Morgan Chesky, a reporter for KOMO News, wrote, Per JBLM source: After being contacted by F-15s, stolen plane began to nose dive, crashing in north Pierce County., NTSB investigator Debra Eckrote held a Saturday morning press conference, the day after the crash, and indicated that investigators are trying to determine what his process was and where the aircraft was going. She identified Rich as ground support so, you know, they have access to aircraft, and described it as lucky that the plane crashed on a very underpopulated island.. Richard B. Russell, a ground service agent at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. On his blog, Richard talks about how he and his wife once ran a bakery. \"I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. A week after Russell stole a 76-seat passenger plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, traversing the Puget Sound region for more than an hour before crashing to his death on Ketron. The incident led to a dramatic and tragic night on August 10, 2018, as aircraft were grounded at Sea-Tac while fighter jets followed the man and air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to help him land the aircraft. But Mr. Russell, his friend said, also loved the travel opportunities that came with working for an airline. Richard Russell, Who Stole Plane Near Seattle, Raises Troubling Security Questions Richard B. Russell, a ground service agent at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. Colton Harris-Moore, nicknamed the Barefoot Bandit, was sentenced in 2011 for stealing small planes, which he had learned to fly himself as a teenager after reading flight manuals. "Nah, I'm a white guy." On Facebook, Rich, using the name Beebo Russell, wrote that he lived in Sumner, Washington, was from Wasilla, Alaska, and was married to Hannah Russell, who works as an assistant pastry chef and waitress, according to her social media account. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He played football and competed in track and field at Wasilla High School, according to a local newspaper, graduating in 2008. On what is believed to be his personal blog, Richard Russell said he was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Alaska at age seven. 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. Prince Richard, then 28, was thrust into the limelight following the death of glamorous brother Prince William in 1972, which rocked the monarchy - and his family bereft. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.. Weird times. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. Powered by. Saw two fighter jets fly overhead then smoke pic.twitter.com/w0bveGUJQH, McKenna Brown (@mckenna_brown) August 11, 2018, A man named Ben Schaechter wrote on Twitter, Halfway down the runway on Alaska airlines out of Seattle and the pilot slams on the brakes and shares we must go back to the gate. 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. I never thought I would work as a ground service agent, Russell wrote. On Facebook, his favorite quotes were religious in nature, including, God IS Love and No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death, this is the Power of Christ in Me, and a non religious line, This is America.. It was not immediately clear how Mr. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, had managed to take off in the plane. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Other audio reported a ground stop was underway at SeaTac, the airport that services Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. 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,. But four former ground-service agents who worked with him keyed in on one line from the cockpit recording, a complaint about wages and a dig at management. 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. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. pic.twitter.com/5z4BYRBrcU, Kierra Elfalan (@KierraElfalanTV) August 12, 2018. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. They may not admit for a few days. Airplane theft, as opposed to hijacking taking over control in flight, with passengers aboard is actually not uncommon, though it usually involves private aircraft, not commercial airliners. He was a faithful husband, a loving son, and a good friend. According to Eckrote, the plane is highly fragmented and she said that a background investigation is underway to further clarify Richs motive. Friends and former colleagues cant comprehend how the smart, funny, quiet man they knew could have carried out such a shocking heist. But lots of people get pushed at work, wish they were paid more and complain about management. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. More information as we learn more. pic.twitter.com/Ra4LcIhwfU. We were married one year later, and one month after that we opened a bakery which we successfully ran for 3 years, he explained on his website of his wife. You can watch the video above. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. No one else was believed to be on board, and officials confirmed Mr. Russell was killed. The man a ground service agent identified as Richard B. Russell, according to a law enforcement official exposed a troubling reality of airport security in the post-9/11 era. 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Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. (If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). Richard Russell, 29, worked as a baggage handler at the airport and had access to aircraft on the tarmac He could be seen pushing the plane back onto the taxiway before taking off and flying. "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. Newly Released Video Shows the Moment Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac Russell, a Seattle airport employee, took an empty Horizon Air passenger plane on a joyride that ended in a fatal . Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. He played athletics in high school in Wasilla, Alaska. I dont want to hurt no one. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. he joked. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. One Horizon flight attendant said she expected to see and hear from management the day after the heist and crash. Russells family released a statement to the news media expressing great shock and remembering Russell for his compassion. He also wrote about his hopes for the future, which included being a manager at the company or becoming a military officer. "I lift a lot of bags. 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. In what appears to be his personal blog, Russell described himself as a native of Key West, Florida, who moved to Alaska at age seven. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Russells death and the dramatic moments that preceded it a passenger plane trailed by F-15 fighter jets cutting rolls against the setting sun left those who knew him stunned and saddened. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.. Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airportin August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget Sound, authorities said at the time. Mr. Russell and his wife were active church members, Mr. Orr said, so he doesnt really fit the bill of someone who would steal an airplane., Funniest person in the room, he added. I think Im gonna try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good, Im just gonna nose down and call it a night.. We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go. Stay tuned., Another indicated, Seatac airspace closed. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. Russell said to dispatchers, You think if I can land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot? and the Air Traffic Control tower said, I think they will give you a job doing anything if you pull this off. He replied, according to some sites, Yeah right! Mr. Russell had cleared all the necessary background checks and was meant to be on the secure side of the airport, where the plane was, Mr. Tilden said. Brown said the starting wage for ground-service agents was about $12 an hour. I enjoy that it is a physical job with a lot of different tasks you can partake in. Our heart is heavy for the family and friends of the person involved.. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. Aw man, those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there, Rich says. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. I just want you to whisper sweet nothings into my ear, said Rich, who claimed he could fly the plane because he played video games. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Who is the aircraft on Runway 1-6 center? an air traffic controller can be heard saying. Like a lot of bags. It's no Bellingham, WA lawmakers deadlocked as drugs ravage Snohomish County, rest of state, Woman shot in West Seattle, hours after 2 killed on Capitol Hill, Oregon tells a cautionary tale about drugs, but we're not listening, 'Airplane of opportunity'? So many bags," he said. You can listen to all of his SoundCloud clips here. 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 south . Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. I want to share how incredibly sad all of us at Alaska are about this incident, said Brad Tilden, chief executive of Alaska Air Group. Hollywood writers go on strike over fair pay in streaming era, Missing teens likely among 7 people found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at 84, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, American climber dies on Mount Everest, expedition organizer says, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, Who was Karl Lagerfeld? Someone sneak on board?, A man named Tyler Lucas wrote, Sitting on the runway at SeaTac, preparing for departure. All rights reserved. There were no other passengers on board. #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. ?, One woman wrote on Twitter, he has stolen a big Horizon turbo prop. Tue 12 July 2022 11:09, UK. Male is confirmed a suicidal male. Russells former co-workers described Horizon as an often unpleasant place to work, where workers were pushed hard, underappreciated and carried a sense of grievance that they were paid less than SeaTacs much-publicized $15 an hour minimum wage. One man wrote on Twitter, Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. We had a ground stop for quite a while here, a dispatcher says. Once I earn my Bachelors in Social Sciences I will either seek a management position where Im at now, or possibly join the military as an officer. Christenson told The Seattle Times it was difficult to listen to the audio as Russell communicated with an air traffic controller. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. Without Him we would be hopeless. \"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. Those were among Richard Russells last words to a Seattle air traffic controller on Friday night before the 29-year-old airline employee crashed a stolen Alaska Airlines plane into a near-deserted island in Puget Sound. He preciously worked as a ground service agent at Horizon from 2015 to present. My logo draft will be a generic suit case with minimalistic travel stickers, encircled by the text: Russell Hustle. Alaska Airlines officials said Mr. Russell had worked for Horizon for three and a half years, and was responsible for handling luggage and cargo and for towing aircraft. Authorities said they dont think he had a pilots license and arent sure how he was able to take off, much less perform complicated tricks in the air like a barrel roll. At one point, Russell told a controller he had played a lot of video games. He never talked about any mental-health issues, Fan said. They had different personalities. "We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go.". The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt that says "the sky's no limit." Authorities said they saw no apparent security violations before he stole the plane, but Russell had been. Now video was released. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. Profile emerges of ground service agent, 29, who had passed background checks to get a job at Horizon Air, Ive got a lot of people that care about me. Russell was a ground agent who had limited access to planes and towing equipment. Russell's family said they weredevastated in a short statement. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. Oh- theyve probably got anti-aircraftnot quite ready to bring it down just yet. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. Not entirely sure whats happening. [8/10/2018]Alaska Airlines has confirmed there was an 'unauthorized take-off' of a plane at Seattle-Tacoma Airport in Washington State. Russell does not appear to have had any pilot training. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 29-year-old worked for Horizon Air, helping to handle luggage and towing aircraft. The man who stole a plane with no one else on board from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport late Friday has been identified as Richard Russell, 29, according to two unnamed law. He sounded just perfectly fine, Criss, referring to Russell by his nickname, told the Anchorage Daily News, which worked in cooperation with The Seattle Times on this story. So many bags,\" he said.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. By Kirk Johnson,Jacey Fortin and Christina Caron. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. Anyone can read what you share. Never knew he was fighting a battle non of us knew about. Just the same old Beebo.. I hope they can make it through this.". The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. In July 2022, video was released that showed Russells last moments going through security, taking off in the plane, and communicating with air traffic control. how to drag logs with a tractor, why did paul beasley leave the gospel keynotes, tourist killed in jamaica 2020,
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