[1][7][8][9] In response, two McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles of the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing under the command of NORAD[10] were scrambled at around 20:15 local time[11] from Portland Air National Guard Base to intercept it. This article was published more than4 years ago. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. Aw man, those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there, Rich says. SeaTac air traffic control made radio contact with Russell, the sole occupant, who described himself as a "broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess." [31][32] On August 12, the FBI said that it had recovered the flight data recorder along with components of the cockpit voice recorder. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Its not clear whether Russell, 29, had ever really flown a plane before. At one point, the controller suggests he might be able to get a job as a pilot after this and Russell replies, "Nah, I'm a white guy." Full video form John Waldron on Facebook being shown on CNN #seatac pic.twitter.com/R98bl5uQBr. Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. Russell took the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop from the northeast corner of the airport, according to the Times. Buy "Richard "SkyKing" Russell" by BogTron as a Sticker. 1,012 words / 5:32 To listen in a player, click here. [15] Near the end of the flight, the aircraft was seen performing a barrel roll over Puget Sound, recovering a mere ten feet (three meters) over the water. in. On his blog, Richard talks about how he and his wife once ran a bakery. Tower tracking flight and in contact. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. He somehow managed to execute a barrel roll and a few other aerobatic maneuvers before crashing the aircraft onto a sparsely populated island, killing only himself. Not entirely sure whats happening. He attended Washington State Global University Campus from 2016-2017, seeking a bachelors degree in social science. [27], The Pierce County Sheriff's Office both thanked the public for its accurate information, and acknowledged on August 11 that federal agencies would be leading the investigation, primarily the Seattle office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). All further inquiries should be directed to the Seattle FBI office", "Alaska Airlines: Everything We Know About the Suicidal Hijacker", "Airplane taken from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has crashed", "Authorities probe how 'suicidal' employee could steal plane from Seattle airport", "Man who sought 'serenity' before crashing stolen plane near Seattle is identified", "Human remains, black box found from plane stolen by Seattle airport employee", "FBI Completes Investigation into August 2018 Unauthorized Flight from Seattle-Tacoma Airport", "Horizon Air Worker Who Crashed Plane Bent on Suicide, Not Terror", "Seattle: stolen plane crashes after rogue take-off from Sea-Tac airport", "Man who took Horizon Air plane from Sea-Tac Airport was quiet, well liked, says former co-worker", "Richard Russell was a jokester who complained about work, but Sea-Tac plane heist still baffles friends", "Family of man who stole plane at Sea-Tac express 'shock,' others say 'Beebo' was friendly guy", "Authorities don't believe man who stole plane had a pilot's license", "Who was Richard Russell? An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. 1.6K. [39] He was an avid traveler and attended Washington State University Global Campus, majoring in social science. Hijacker does not know how to land the plane. He was on meth.. Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire . [9], On August 11th, 2018, journalist Jimmy Tomson tweeted out a series of audio clips in which Russell can be heard talking to an air traffic controller (shown below).[3]. "[21] When an air traffic controller requested he land the plane after this maneuver, he said "I don't know. "[18] I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. Pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe. I sure married a nice pair of calves! she joked with a photo of the couple. Sadly, he did not survive much longer at all. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. A Port of Seattle official, Mike Pohl, said that Russell used an airport tractor to pull the parked plane onto a runway, which he would have known how to do, as part of his job in ground service was towing airplanes. Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018. Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. Second, psychiatric diagnosis also suggests simple solutions to complex problems: If he did it because he was mentally ill, we need more widely available mental health services.. [37] From early childhood he was known as "Beebo" to his friends and family. The Port of Seattle released the video. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. We believe there are no passengers on board. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. ", "Plane Thief Said He Trained on Games, Didn't Plan to Land", "NORAD: Fighter jets were trying to direct stolen plane over Pacific Ocean when it crashed", "Towboat crew dropped everything to respond to Ketron Island crash", "Firefighters battle more than flames after Ketron Island plane crash", "Seattle plane crash: 'heartbroken' family remember gentle man who meant no harm", "Ketron Island residents grateful Horizon Air plane didn't crash into homes", "Thanks to everyone for sharing accurate information, insuring the public's safety. Apparently someone stole a plane from SeaTac? Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. Russells social media accounts have become funeral guestbooks, digitized for the world. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital So I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. The media also started sharing audio clips of ongoing conversations between Russell and an air traffic controller. Luke Adams ? Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. Goodbye" (shown below, left). ? wrote one woman on Twitter, echoing the comments of many people who heard the audio. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. The man who stole a commercial aeroplane in Seattle, and took his life by crashing it, has become a folk hero to neo-Nazi groups and incels, drafted into a poisonous delusion that is becoming mainstream. [36] He had been part of a tow team, which repositions aircraft on the airport apron, for about four years. If you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. They wont let anyone leave the airport while hes up there. On Facebook, Rich, using the name Beebo Russell, wrote that he lived in Sumner, Washington, was from Wasilla, Alaska, and was married to Hannah Russell, who worked as an assistant pastry chef and waitress, according to her social media account. The Pierce County Sheriff wrote on Twitter, Stolen horizon airplane crashed into Ketron island. Hey all! [5], On September 3rd, 2022, it was reported that a 10-year Tupelo Aviation employee, Cory Wayne Patterson, stole a twin-engine plane from the Tupelo Regional Airport. I think Im gonna try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good, Im just gonna nose down and call it a night.. Hey, I found myself in a predicament. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. His conversation and tone is very casual. You can listen to all of his SoundCloud clips here. More recently, he listed his occupation as operations agent for Horizon Air at Sea-Tac since April 2018. [29] An operational supervisor for Horizon Air described Russell as "a quiet guy" who was "well liked by the other workers". I just want you to whisper sweet nothings into my ear, said Rich, who claimed he could fly the plane because he played video games. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. Monteith also recalled that Russell had been in the cockpit of an Embraer 175 with him, and that Russell asked him about his "flows, which is the preflight preparation I do for takeoff. [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. The flight data recorder may show how well Russell managed the aircrafts myriad functions. This story has been shared 176,044 times. Monteith stated the men told him they were training to use the aircraft's auxiliary power unit so they could tow it, but said it was "suspicious" that they left when he confronted them. 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[45] The aircraft was worth $30million, all of which was paid under the company's insurance policy "with no deductibles. [23] The Q400 ultimately crashed at 20:43 local time[1] on Ketron Island in Puget Sound, Pierce County, Washington, killing the occupant and destroying the aircraft. Authorities said they did not believe he had a pilots license. Russell told air traffic controllers that he was a broken guy with a few screws loose, but also that he wanted to avoid injuring innocent people. The family of a man who authorities say stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday and died when he later crashed the aircraft said they were . In July 2022, video was released that showed Russells last moments going through security, taking off in the plane, and communicating with air traffic control. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac . 160. r/lostgeneration. [12] Flights in and out of SeaTac Airport were temporarily suspended. [14] The transmissions were quickly recorded and posted on social media websites. Acted alone he is 29 year old Pierce county residence. #SeaTac @king5 #ketron #dupont #andersonisland pic.twitter.com/78LC5PXKhU, Katreichel (@Katreichelart) August 11, 2018, The Sheriffs Department also wrote: Told F 15s made it within a few minutes of theft of plane. Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airportin August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget Sound, authorities said at the time. What happened from then, left a. Magazines, stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Or create a free account to access more articles, 'Beebo Was Loved By Everyone.' I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. After taking off, an air traffic controller said, He needs some help controlling his aircraft. Russell responded: Nah, I mean, I dont need that much help. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said at a news conference Saturday that Russell worked for Horizon Air for four years and was on the clock and in uniform when he stole the twin-engine turboprop plane, which was parked in a cargo lot at the time. He had broken up with his girlfriend of 15 years and was having trouble finding steady work. On 4chan,[7][8] threads dedicated to Russell were submitted over the next several days, many of which contained photoshops, image macros and fan arts praising the incident and referring to Russell as "Sky King" (shown below). I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. They were born, they laughed, they struggled, they loved, and they died. Live aviation audio from the tower said, at one point, that dispatchers were urging Rich Russell to try to land that airplane safely and not hurt anybody while dealing with a snarl of stalled planes on the ground. Russell cites his position at Horizon in his blog as well. The story, despite seeming near-mythic, is true. You seemed like a nice guy and a hell of a natural pilot., Seattle hijackers plane heist, midair stunts and fiery crash expose gaps in aviation security. He then flew around the area for about an hour, speaking at times with air traffic controllers and apologizing to loved ones for what he was about to do. Quite a scary experience. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. The plane crashed through several lines of 100-foot trees, the National Transportation Safety Board said, according to CNN. On Instagram, Hannah Russell posted recent photos with Rich. A recording of their conversation . 2:18. 0:00. [25][26] No injuries were reported to residents of the sparsely populated island despite the crash site being in close proximity to at least one cabin, which was occupied at the time of the incident. Would love your thoughts, please comment. [12] His flight pattern was also shared online, with Twitter[13] user @RMaons writing, "SKY KING 2.0 ON FLIGHT RADAR, AIRCRAFT IS CALLED KING AIR LOOOL" (shown below, right). I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. [4][6][9] A tow boat crew was the first to respond. He had psychotic depression. by But as the cockpit recordings and videos of Russells antics spread, and Internet users uncovered his online postings, his final act drew both admirers and detractors. I hope this prompts a nationwide discussion about mental healthcare overall. First, it would provide a simple explanation that makes the incomprehensible seem comprehensible. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go. His website is filled with photos and videos of his travels and was previously linked to his Instagram account. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Mona Lazar. Although he didnt have a pilots license, Russell knew how to work the plane from his experience as an airport employee, the FBI previously said. I got a lot of people that care about me. A friend wrote on Facebook, So heart brokenhe was such a kind person to me. Weird times. The wife of an airline employee who hijacked a plane in Seattle had recorded their seven happy years of marriage on Instagram, calling him 'the man who keeps me laughing'.. Richard Russell has . The sketch on Richard Russells WordPress page. Footage of Russell performing the barrel roll was captured on video by Facebook[2] user John Waldron. To impress a woman, he arrived in a helicopter to take her on a classified mission, officials said. Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. New footage has been released from a 2018 incident in which an airline ground service agent named Richard Russell stole a turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and crashed it into an island in the Puget Sound. So many bags, he said. He claimed to have buzzed Mount Rainier. The libs are trying to solve the housing crisis in deep blue areas by having teachers live with their students. Why did I do it? Stay tuned., Another indicated, Seatac airspace closed. I wouldn't want to do that. What now? Who is the aircraft on Runway 1-6 center? an air traffic controller can be heard saying. Among the memes are images of Wojaks veering off into the sunset alongside quotes from Russell, a selfie of Russell sitting in the cockpit of the plane and video edits using audio clips from the conversation between Russell and the air traffic controller mixed with sad music and effects to emphasize the tragedy behind the event. RIP Sky King, a user wrote. Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. They are grounding all planes and waiting. On August 10, 2018, Mr. Russell, known as Beebo to his friends and family, helped himself to a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 turboprop and took it on a 75-minute joyride. [40] He was a hard-hitting football fullback in high school, scoring six touchdowns in his senior year, after which he moved to North Dakota to join the football team at Valley City State University. Russells family released a statement to the news media expressing great shock and remembering Russell for his compassion. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. Russell flew the plane around Seattle for an hour while National, New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident, 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. On July 2, 1982, a 33-year-old truck driver named Larry Walters took flight in a patio chair attached to more than 40 helium-filled weather balloons. Legal Information: Know Your Meme is a trademark of Literally Media Ltd. By using this site, you are agreeing by the site's terms of use and privacy policy and DMCA policy. They may not admit for a few days. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. HiIm a ground service agent. Richard Russell, who dreamed of being in the military and once ran a bakery with his wife, was identified as the suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted stunts in the air before the plane crashed. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. After 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 about why and how he undertook the ultimately fatal flight. On July 2, 1982, a . A moniker quickly took hold, echoed by others. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. "[38], Russell was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska, at the age of seven. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. Many people online compared the incident to 2018's incident with Richard Russell, calling Patterson "Sky King 2.0" or "Sky King 2. Tower, you need to call and scramble now, one pilot warned, according to the video. [10] According to reports, Patterson called 911 from the plane and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. Was doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills caused crash into Island. The Sheriffs Department added, Two military F 15 chased plane but was not involved in crash and confirmed, No passengers on plane.. After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. According to Eckrote, the plane is highly fragmented and she said that a background investigation is underway to further clarify Richs motive. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. Ah, minimum wage. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. Richard Russell plane crash video was released. I don't want to. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. Since his famous flight, he had spent a lot of time hiking, reading the Bible, and volunteering with the Forest Service. 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, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted stunts in the air before the plane crashed. At one point, he explained that he did not know how to follow instructions to punch in data or how to assess his fuel consumption after takeoff. | The airline confirmed that an unauthorized take-off occurred. Posted Sep 24, 2018. Although official accounts other than through live aviation audio were hard to come by at first, many passengers took to social media to report that pilots were telling them a man had stolen a plane. Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. "Got a few screws loose, I guess. He also had a pellet gun, with which he eventually shot several of the balloons, beginning his slow descent. Happening right now. August 12, 2018 1:05 PM EDT. ?, One woman wrote on Twitter, he has stolen a big Horizon turbo prop. A black family confronts a 70-year-old killing and a white mans exoneration, A Horizon Air employee described as suicidal stole an empty plane at Seattles airport and crashed it into a nearby island on Aug. 10. Well chalk it up to that. [5] It was not scheduled to fly again that day. Third, and perhaps most importantly, psychiatric diagnoses provide listeners with psychological distance from the victim. "[17] He asked ATC if he could get a job as a pilot with Alaska Airlines if he successfully landed the aircraft. Russell said to dispatchers, You think if I can land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot? and the Air Traffic Control tower said, I think they will give you a job doing anything if you pull this off. He replied, according to some sites, Yeah right! Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. Male is confirmed a suicidal male. "[20], Rolling Stone magazine investigated the incident and reported in 2021 that some of Russell's friends and family believe he may have suffered brain injuries during his football years in high school and college. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Wikipedia. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. In another moment, Russell said he was lightheaded and talked about adjusting the cabin pressure, but it was not clear whether he was able to do that. Im in the air right now. Nine-tenths of them are from a lower socioeconomic class. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. He would take my shifts if I needed. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. [7], SeattleTacoma air traffic control (ATC) maintained radio contact with the occupant. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. This is a complete shock to us. He and his wife had owned a bakery in Oregon but sold it to move closer to her family. Periodically, his voice cut into the dispatches. Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. On Facebook, Rich, using the name Beebo Russell, wrote that he lived in Sumner, Washington, was from Wasilla, Alaska, and was married to Hannah Russell, who works as an assistant pastry chef and . Glenn Sullivan, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the Virginia Military Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lexington, Virginia. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Tilden said that air traffic control was immediately aware that Russells take off in the aircraft was an unauthorized departure.. Russell said on the aviation audio, This is probably jail time for life, huh? Ive played some video games before.. Because I am a clinical psychologist, people come up to me after a news event like this and ask my opinion. Around 9 PM Pacific Time on August 10th, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell, stole a Q400 airplane from Seattle Tacoma International Airport and went for a joyride into the abyss. That means I lift a lot of bags so many bags, he says. The incident led to a dramatic and tragic night on August 10, 2018, as aircraft were grounded at Sea-Tac while fighter jets followed the man and air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to help him land the aircraft. KINGs Madison Wade reports. The crisis has engulfed the West as a whole. The mans bizarre and ultimately doomed flight pushed fighter planes into action. . Seattle ground Horizon guy. We were married one year later, and one month after that we opened a bakery which we successfully ran for 3 years, he explained on his website of his wife. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible copycat this September. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Powered by. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. Britain is in the grip of a male suicide crisis. The family thanked authorities, Alaskair, the community and Russells friends and family. I love my parents and sister this isn't your fault. The aircraft had been in maintenance status and was parked in an otherwise-vacant space for work on the plane's, New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in 2018, A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. All Rights Reserved. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Horizon Q4 prop hijacked by unauthorized person not a pilot. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. You went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral .

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