richard russell plane crash video

An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. 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. 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. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. I don't know! Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. 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. You did that. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. 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. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. 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. 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. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. He was immediately killed. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. May 25, 2003. 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. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. 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. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, Sudden FAA Failure Grounds U.S. Did you encounter any technical issues? The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? We may earn commission if you buy from a link. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. 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. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. Playing What We Want In Seattle! 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. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. That's just not safe.". Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. 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. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Winter Weather Advisory expires for much of western Washington, Intertribal comedy sketch troupe performs 'Between Two Knees' at Seattle Rep, plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed, Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin, released the findings of its investigation, Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport, 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. A beautifully-written Rolling Stone article published in summer of 2021 tells the story of Russells life up to the moment he towed the plane onto the runway and hopped in the cockpit, attempting to find meaning or motive to help explain why this goofy, God-fearing baggage handler decided to steal a plane he likely knew he couldnt successfully land. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . A Warner Bros. About to take off. 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. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". So many bags," he said. 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. 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 . The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. Aug. 12, 2018. 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. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. 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. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. 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,. There were no passengers aboard. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. It did not elaborate. 2023 Cox Media Group. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. 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. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! I've played some video games before," Russell responds. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. 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 Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. 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.". Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. I don't know, man! "Here we have an employee who was vetted to the level to have access to the aircraft and had a skill set proficient enough to take off with that plane.". "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. 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. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. Discovery Company. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. "We heard the jet because our windows were down while we were waiting in the ferry line to go to Anderson Island, which is adjacent to Ketron Island.". 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. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. 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. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. Scroll down to continue . 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. 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. "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. 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. ", 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. 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. "Never really knew it till now," he said. May 23, 1969. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. 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 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. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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? He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. New surveillance. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. 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. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. 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. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later 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. You know?". Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. "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. 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. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. "Although investigators received information regarding Russells background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russells actions.". The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. 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. "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. Cooper? "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" 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. The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. That includes both domestic and international flights. . 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. 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 . 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 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. 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. Ah, dammit. "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. "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. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. He was killed in the crash. I don't need that much help. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. 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. He did not survive the crash. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. Never really knew it until now.". 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 black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. All Rights Reserved. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. 7 months ago. 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. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. . Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. 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. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. 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. "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. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. 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. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. August 22, 1979. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. 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 posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". The NTSB is now processing the equipment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The sky thief Richard Russell captivated the audience's attention after the Authorities at the Port of Seattle released an airport surveillance video of plane stealing.

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.

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