Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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. Four years ago, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell managed to steal an Alaskan Airlines turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 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. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. Like a lot of bags. he joked. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. "Oh man. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. May 23, 1969. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. "Congratulations. 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. Video released to KOMO News from the Port of Seattle capture the final moments of Richard Russell who took a Horizon Air plane from SeaTac Airport without authorization, performed acrobatic. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. SEATAC, Wash. - It was a shocking scene above the Puget Sound, as Horizon Airlines employee Richard Russell stole and flew a turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport while air traffic tried to talk him . 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. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. "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 was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. The FBI released the findings of its investigation earlier this week, concluding 28-year-old ramp agent Richard Russell, also known as Bebo, stole the Horizon airplane and intentionally crashed it into the south end of Ketron Island. Scroll down to continue . SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. The Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the . He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. 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. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. They say says this is a complete shock. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. 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. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. 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. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 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 footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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 Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. We may earn a commission from links on this page. U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. That includes both domestic and international flights. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. Russell is then seen walking into a restricted area meant for baggage handlers, getting onto a tarmac tow vehicle, and dragging the plane he was set to steal onto the runway. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. I don't know, man! F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. 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. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 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. 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. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. 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.
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.
. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". 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. 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. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Cooper? It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. 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. 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. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. Richard "Beebo" Russell (Screenshot from YouTube via AP) SEATTLE - The Horizon Air baggage handler who stole a commercial airplane from Sea-Tac Airport and took it for a 73-minute joy ride . Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." What happened from then, left a. "I always felt bad for the guys and gals who handled luggage. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. August 22, 1979. 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. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. 7 months ago. 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. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. "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. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. appreciated. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". Please enter valid email address to continue. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. "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. "There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile," the controller says, reffering to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. . That's just not safe.". 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. 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,. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. 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. It evens out in the end.". Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Never really knew it until now.". "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. ", 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. 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. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. Im coming home! But it was not to be. 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, FBI probes how airline employee stole plane, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization, push us to learn what we can from this tragedy. 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? CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! Please enter valid email address to continue. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. 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. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. It did not elaborate. 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. About to take off. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. The Port of Seattle just released the CCTV footage of 29-year-old Richard Russell towing the Alaska Airlines' Q400 Turboprop into position back in 2018 at the Seattle-Tacoma International. I hope they can make it through this.". Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. "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.". 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. 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. 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. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . New surveillance. Airline and Seattle airport officials revealed the following at a news conference Saturday: In audio recordings of the incident posted on Broadcastify, Russell can be heard talking to air traffic controllers as they try to guide him to land the plane. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. That includes both domestic and international flights. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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.".