Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. "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. 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 statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. 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 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. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. He was killed in the crash. Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? 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. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. "I lift a lot of bags. What followed was a 73-minute joyride during which Richard Beebo Russell had a surprisingly candid conversation with air-traffic controllers as he pushed the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-engine plane through some daring acrobatic moves. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. 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. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. 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 black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" 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. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. 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. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. "I lift a lot of bags. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. 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. The plane eventually crashed on sparsely populated Ketron Island, starting a fire in the woods but injuring no one outside the plane. 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. All Rights Reserved. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. 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,. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Its not yet known exactly what pre-existing psychological conditions Russell may have had, but in the course of his conversation with air traffic controllers he expresses racial resentment. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". Playing What We Want In Seattle! All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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! 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 he crashed 25 miles away. 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. 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. among other things. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. That includes both domestic and international flights. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. 7 months ago. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. Discovery Company. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! On the other hand, Russell was reported to have been profoundly troubled, whereas Malaysian authorities were unable to find any evidence that Shah suffered from mental illness or was undergoing any kind of stress in his life. Aug. 12, 2018. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. 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. 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 plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 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. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. 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 . August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies.

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.

. 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. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. I don't know, man! Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. 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. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. So many bags," he said. 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. 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. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island More Videos Next up in 5 July 4, 1986. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. 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. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. 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 . 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.". 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. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. New surveillance. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.Connect with NBC News Online!NBC News App: https://smart.link/5d0cd9df61b80Breaking News Alerts: https://link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/breaking-news-signup?cid=sm_npd_nn_yt_bn-clip_190621Visit NBCNews.Com: http://nbcnews.to/ReadNBCFind NBC News on Facebook: http://nbcnews.to/LikeNBCFollow NBC News on Twitter: http://nbcnews.to/FollowNBC#Surveillance #Horizonair #hijacking 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. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. August 22, 1979. 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. 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. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. 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. So many bags," he said. 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. 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 was kinda hoping that was going to be it. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. 2023 Cable News Network. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. New footage released by the Port of Seattle shows Mr Russell who worked as a baggage handler at the airport preparing the plane for takeoff. "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. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. About to take off. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. "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. appreciated. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. He was in the air for about an hour. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. They say says this is a complete shock. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. 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. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." / CBS/AP. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. The Associated Press contributed to this report. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . You know?". 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. He did not survive the crash. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Like a lot of bags. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "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. 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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Never really knew it until now.". "But the air traffic controller had to tell him how to set what they call the 'bugs' -- they're just little, sort of, little levers, or little notches on your indicator for your heading, which is kind of basic. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. "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. 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. 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. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? 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. I don't know! 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 man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night.