The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. 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. With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. 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. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. Like a lot of bags. Playing What We Want In Seattle! Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. That includes both domestic and international flights. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. 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. "Oh man. "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. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He did not survive the crash. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. 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. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". You know?". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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 cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. / CBS/AP. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. August 22, 1979. 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 NTSB is now processing the equipment. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. I don't need that much help. 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. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. 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. "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. 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. 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. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. 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. 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. 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? Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Who was Richard Russell? By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. 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 footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. 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. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 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 . 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . 2. Please enter valid email address to continue. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. "A couple of the turns, it looked like what we call in basic flight training a 'coordinated turn,' meaning that he not only used the yoke but you also coordinate with the rudders and you do the turns. "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. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. 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. 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. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. "He might have been talking to himself in the cockpit," so the voice recorder may provide additional information that wasn't recorded in radio traffic, she said. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. What happened from then, left a. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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. 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. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? 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. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM I hope they can make it through this.". "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 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. May 23, 1969. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Despite the timing of the crash during prime fire season, the fires in the video seemed to be small and scattered. "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. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". 2023 Cable News Network. 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. Ah, dammit. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. New surveillance. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. He was in the air for about an hour. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. 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. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. 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 plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Investigators "did not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology," according to a summary of the FBI report. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Siddiq Saunderson Moved to L.A. and Immediately Bought a Prius, Millennials and Zillennials Can't Get Enough of Manual Transmissions, Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus (Lifetime Subscription), Tesla Investor Day 2023 Was Pretty Great if You Ignored Elon. 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? In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. 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. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and maintenance area for the night after arriving from Victoria, British Columbia, earlier in the day. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. 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. 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. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. 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. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM "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.". The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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 don't want to. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023.
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