How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. It did not elaborate. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. 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. 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 King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 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 lift a lot of bags. 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. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. Please enter valid email address to continue. Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent for three and a half years, was the only person aboard the plane, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. 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. 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. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. . Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. "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.". 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. 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. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she 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. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. . In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" You did that. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. He was immediately killed. 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. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "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. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. New surveillance. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. 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. 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 ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. He was immediately killed. 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 thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. 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? Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. 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. All Rights Reserved. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. 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. 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. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . "Oh man. 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. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. 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. "Congratulations. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! 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. "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. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. The FBI has recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon aircraft that crashed onto Ketron Island Friday night. 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. / CBS/AP. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. He was killed in the crash. 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. That includes both domestic and international flights. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. 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. 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. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. 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. I've played some video games before, he said. 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. 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. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! Like a lot of bags. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 7 months ago. 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. 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. He did not survive the crash. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. 2. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Aug. 12, 2018. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. 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. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". 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. 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 . Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. 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,. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM You know?". Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". / CBS/AP. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. 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. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. ", 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.
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