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. 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. It was one of the strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018: A baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport moseyed onto the tarmac, hopped in an unoccupied Horizon Air passenger plane, taxied to an empty runway, and took off. 2023 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. All rights reserved. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. So many bags," he said. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. Human remains were found in wake of Friday's tragic plane crash. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! Nah, Im a white guy.. "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.". Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. 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. Discovery Company. 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. The 76-seat Horizon Air turboprop plane took off without authorization at 7:32 p.m. local time Friday, with Russell, who was not a pilot, at the controls, officials said. 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. 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. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. A Warner Bros. 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. . Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. "Oh man. 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. 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. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. 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. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. / CBS/AP. KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. They say says this is a complete shock. I don't know! 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. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images At one point he asks the controller, Hey, do you think if I land this successfully, Alaska [Horizon Airs parent company, Alaska Airllines] will give me a job as a pilot? Told, You know, I think they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off, Russell replies, Yeah right! 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. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. .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. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. On his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he said he was from Wasilla, Alaska; lived in Sumner, Washington; and was married in 2012. It evens out in the end.". You know?". Never really knew it until now.". Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. The FBI has recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon aircraft that crashed onto Ketron Island Friday night. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! 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. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. 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. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. July 4, 1986. among other things. Scroll down to continue . The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! CNN's Kyung Lah reports. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM 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. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. 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. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Aug. 12, 2018. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. appreciated. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Like a lot of bags. "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" August 22, 1979. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. 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. 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,. 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. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. ", 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. 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 . There were no passengers aboard. Like a lot of bags. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. 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? 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? The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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. On Friday, Horizon Air ground service agent .css-3wjtm9{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#1c6a65;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-3wjtm9:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Richard B. Russell got in one of the airlines Bombardier Q400 aircraft and took off from Seattles SeaTac Airport. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. 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 . and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. What happened from then, left a. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. "Never really knew it till now," he said. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. / CBS/AP. 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. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! 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. 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. I don't want to. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. 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Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Cooper? 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 The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was immediately killed. 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 . "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.". 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Please enter valid email address to continue. "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 was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. 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. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. "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.". In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent for three and a half years, was the only person aboard the plane, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. "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 man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM 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. But the plane slammed into tiny Ketron Island, a sparsely populated island southwest of Tacoma. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Im coming home! But it was not to be. 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. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. New surveillance. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. "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. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. That includes both domestic and international flights. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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. 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. 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? I've played some video games before, he said. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. 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. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! The Associated Press contributed to this report. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. 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. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. 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.