Saw two fighter jets fly overhead then smoke pic.twitter.com/w0bveGUJQH, McKenna Brown (@mckenna_brown) August 11, 2018, A man named Ben Schaechter wrote on Twitter, Halfway down the runway on Alaska airlines out of Seattle and the pilot slams on the brakes and shares we must go back to the gate. 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. He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Luke Adams ? Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups. "What can you expect," some said, "when you take people whose great-great-grandparents were pioneers, grizzly bear hunters, and city-builders and make them baggage handlers, call center operators, and sales clerks?" Authorities said they dont think he had a pilots license and arent sure how he was able to take off, much less perform complicated tricks in the air like a barrel roll. At one point, Russell told a controller he had played a lot of video games. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. It was recovered along with the cockpit voice recorder, authorities said Sunday, amid a streak of disintegrated debris. A moniker quickly took hold, echoed by others. As the voice recording shows, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him.. Videos posted to social media showed the other side of his skills. Many saw Russell as a man suffering from depression and sympathized with him. Russell wrote that he was pursuing his Bachelor of Social Sciences and hoped to work his way up to a management position at Horizon Air or to join the military or law enforcement. I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. 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.. | I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. 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. "Nah, I'm a white guy." So I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. Disclaimer: I am in no way proficient in the arts.. He worked at the airline for more than three years, authorities said. He did it because he was depressed. As David Hume observed, our brains habitually seek out causation and are restless until a cause, even an erroneous cause, is determined. I think I might mess something up there, too. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington. Thanks for contacting us. ", "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. Both were armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles[12] and went supersonic, generating sonic booms on the way to the Puget Sound area. On Instagram, Hannah Russell posted recent photos with Rich. But that flight was his last. Below are some of the clips. Ive played some video games before.. "Sky King" is a nickname given to 29-year-old ground service operator Richard Russell after he stole a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) and died after crashing on Ketron Island in Puget Sound. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. More information as we learn more, Alaska Airlines wrote on Twitter around 9:20 p.m. on the west coast. Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. So many bags, he said. A recording of their conversation . This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and then crashed into his death. Patch confirmed there was a security incident underway at SeaTac. Aw man, those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there, Rich says. [4] The New York Times Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, [5] The Washington Post Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, [6] CBS News Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, [10] CNN Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, [14] 4chan Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi, His conversation and tone is very casual. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Phone scammers tried to rob a grandma in Canada. [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. 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. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. 160. r/lostgeneration. Magazines, stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Or create a free account to access more articles, 'Beebo Was Loved By Everyone.' He did a barrel roll in a stolen plane and went out in a blaze of glory. He flew around as an air traffic controller calmly tried to reason with him. He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. But he mentioned video games during his recorded conversation with air traffic control, which some have taken as a reference to flight simulator software. [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. We had a ground stop for quite a while here, a dispatcher says. (Video: Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post). And part of his job was to drive the tractor that backed the aircraft into position for takeoff. I dont want to hurt no one. Richard Russell, AKA Rich or Beebo Russell, was named as the airport mechanic who stole a Horizon plane at Sea-Tac and crashed it. You can listen to all of his SoundCloud clips here. Filed under Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Who's Afraid of the Rorschach Inkblot Test? Wikipedia. "[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. At one point, he says to the utterly professional air traffic controller, Im sorry about this. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Ah, minimum wage. Well chalk it up to that. Would love your thoughts, please comment. They wont let anyone leave the airport while hes up there. He preciously worked as a ground service agent at Horizon from 2015 to present. You can watch the video above. Hearing Mr. Russell speak during his final hour is an emotional experience. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. Will many of us have a better story to tell when we get to wherever were going, one Reddit user saidin a thread. Meanwhile, various tributes to Russell were uploaded to YouTube (shown below). On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. Although authorities have not released his name, The Seattle Times identified the man as Richard Russell. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process, 6 Signs That Youre Depressed and Ignoring It. Happening right now. Goodbye" (shown below, left). I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. After he landed, Mr. Walters was arrested and charged with unlawful operation of an aircraft within a controlled air traffic area. 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. Commercial aircraft are complex machines, he said. I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. This article was published more than4 years ago. We love you bud. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. U.S. Airlines Are Editing Their Websites to Remove Taiwan's Name at China's Request, What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. "Heroes" - Peter Gabriel Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. 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. Two F-15 fighter planes were scrambled to follow Rich, who eventually crashed into a wooded area a little over an hour after takeoff, killing only himself. If you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. We believe there are no passengers on board. Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. On social media, Richard Russell quickly became something of a folk hero, but people also felt sadness and empathy for his pain and his plight. They said the family is moving forward with the difficult talk of processing our grief and asked for space to mourn. [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". [10] According to reports, Patterson called 911 from the plane and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. They turned him into a hero with the name, and with it came a lot of memes. Public acts of violence such as mass shootings often reflect the perpetrators troubled, dark past. 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. Wife of Richard Russel, Hannahh Russel documented her seven-year-long marriage to the 29-year-old on Instagram ( Source : co ) "After failing to persuade Hannah of Alaska's awesomeness, we landed on Sumner due to its proximity to her family," he wrote in his blog. We decided to sell and move in 2015, because we were both so far removed from our families. Richard Russell had a website that appeared to have been for a college communications class. Or that he appeared to be a happy, regular guy. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. Oh- theyve probably got anti-aircraftnot quite ready to bring it down just yet. Confirmed info .. this is a single suicide male. After listening many times to the recordings, I found his voice - alternately warm, scared, and funny - to . 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. 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. Mona Lazar. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. [41] They sold the bakery in 2015 so his wife could be closer to her family; they settled in Sumner, Washington, and Russell found employment with Horizon Air. [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). You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. "[42] During his conversation with air traffic control, Russell said he "[knew] what [he was] doing a little bit" because he had experience playing video games. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. The day of the incident, a thread on 4chan's /pol/[14] board about the incident gained over 470 posts. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. He was manic-depressive. Tower, you need to call and scramble now, one pilot warned, according to the video. On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. (If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). What have I done? . Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. There is the runway just about a mile off your right side, do you see that? PostedSeptember 24, 2018 The story, despite seeming near-mythic, is true. The fire burned a 2-acre (0.8ha) area,[23] but was extinguished by the following morning. Magazines, Digital I think I might mess something up there too. Never really knew it until now. He doesnt sound confident in his ability to land back at SeaTac. Acted alone he is 29 year old Pierce county residence. Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. He was very, very friendly automatically willing to bring everyone in, Hannah Holmes, who also participates in Young Life, told The Seattle Times. He and his wife Hannah started a bakery in Oregon in their early 20s, according to a 2012 story in a local paperthat depicted a happy, determined couple. [24] Delayed by the SteilacoomAnderson Island ferry, firefighters from West Pierce Fire and Rescue and other nearby departments arrived on the island about an hour and a half after the crash, where they then contended with the island's thick brush. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. KINGs Madison Wade reports. Tower tracking flight and in contact. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, flew the plane for 73 minutes before crashing it into remote Ketron Island, which has fewer than 20 residents. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. However, late in the evening of August 10, 2018, tower audio indicated that some planes were being released. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Without Him we would be hopeless. [34][35] The FBI stated, "Interviews with work colleagues, friends, and familyand review of text messages exchanged with Russell during the incidentdid not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology. A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. [4][6][9] A tow boat crew was the first to respond. RIP Sky King, a user wrote. He was a quiet and well-liked young man who was active in his church. Rest in peace Rich. He had broken up with his girlfriend of 15 years and was having trouble finding steady work. At another point, he says he's going to try to "do a barrel roll." 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. [20], On April 14, 2022, the FBI released 500 pages of previously classified documents related to the investigation. 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." I wouldn't want to do that. Known as Beebo to family and friends, Russell was in his youth a gregarious, outgoing star athlete at Wasilla High School in Alaska, according to The Anchorage Daily News, running track and wrestling. #seatac., A woman named Robanne Stading wrote on Twitter, #seatac airport is on a ground halt because evidently a mechanic is flying an unauthorized flightseeing trip around the mtns. [29] An operational supervisor for Horizon Air described Russell as "a quiet guy" who was "well liked by the other workers". Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. ", Currently we have a 29yr old who stole this plane & is threatening to crash it into something. [19] Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden announced on the same day that the airline was coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration, the FBI, and the National Transportation Safety Board, and was "working to find out everything we possibly can about what happened".