Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. Mr Russell was at times jovial at one point he assured SeaTac's tower that he didn't need help controlling the airplane because he had played some video games and questioned if it could do a backflip and was at others melancholic. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. 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. "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. Worker who stole plane and crashed identified, See stolen plane flying moments before crash, Co-worker of man who stole plane speaks out, Official: Man taxied plane before stealing it, Airline worker's family releases statement, Airline issues statement after Seattle crash, Witness: Thought Air Force was practicing for show. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". 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. So many bags," he said. It evens out in the end.". He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. 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. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. 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. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. The Port of Seattle just released the CCTV footage of 29-year-old Richard Russell towing the Alaska Airlines' Q400 Turboprop into position back in 2018 at the Seattle-Tacoma International. About to take off. 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. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. 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. 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. 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. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. 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. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. "He might have been talking to himself in the cockpit," so the voice recorder may provide additional information that wasn't recorded in radio traffic, she said. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. He was immediately killed. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. He did not survive the crash. That's just not safe.". 7 months ago. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." What happened from then, left a. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. Richard Russell died in Friday's plane crash. 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. The plane had been parked in a maintenance area and was not scheduled for a passenger flight, Tilden said. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. New video released Wednesday shows what first responders found after a plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on a south Puget Sound island last August. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. "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. Russell is then seen walking into a restricted area meant for baggage handlers, getting onto a tarmac tow vehicle, and dragging the plane he was set to steal onto the runway. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport grounds and photos from his many trips. 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. 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. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. July 4, 1986. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. 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. . 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. Indeed, in transcripts of his conversation with air-traffic control as he zig-zags the stolen plane through the airspace above the 15th-largest city in the U.S. (some of which can be heard in the video above), Russells demeanor goes from awestruck, to giddy, to fearful, to guilty, as he seems to process in real-time the weight of what hes done, and the unlikelihood that hell survive. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. 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. Lastly, we've been reporting a lot only on the most famous case of suspected pilot suicide, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, and this weekend's tragedy bears at least a few similarities. He was immediately killed. 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. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. Like a lot of bags. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. Worlds Largest Passenger Aircraft Will Fly Again, Russia May Use Military Aircraft for Civilians, A Livestream of Planes Trying to Land at Heathrow, Why a New 5G Rollout Is Making Airlines Nervous, The Complicated History of the Very First Flight, The VTOL Future of Flight That Never Took Off. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. / CBS/AP. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. He was in the air for about an hour. "Russell had a few unexcused absences, but nothing considered significant.". 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. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. 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. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. 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. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. 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. 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. 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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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. 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. "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. 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. 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. Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. 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. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. 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. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. They say says this is a complete shock. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. "Oh man. 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. It did not elaborate. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. 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. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. 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. 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? "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.". Aug. 12, 2018. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. 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. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. May 25, 2003. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." 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. Like a lot of bags. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. "I lift a lot of bags. A Warner Bros. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Airline and Seattle airport officials revealed the following at a news conference Saturday: In audio recordings of the incident posted on Broadcastify, Russell can be heard talking to air traffic controllers as they try to guide him to land the plane. Never really knew it until now.". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. 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. 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. I don't know! 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much You know?". In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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,. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? Video from a witness on the ground shows the plane at one point pulling up for a loop, putting the aircraft upside-down and then pulling back up just feet above a body of water. "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 Associated Press contributed to this report. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. 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 . In the days leading up to the theft and subsequent crash, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong with him, investigators wrote in the updated report. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. A blog that appeared to belong to Russell as part of a multimedia content creation class at Washington State University focused on his job on a ground service agent. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. That includes both domestic and international flights. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. 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. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. Scroll down to continue . "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. He was killed in the crash. "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. "I never thought I would work as a Ground Service Agent (GSA) for an Airlines company," he wrote in a blog post in September 2017. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Find flight for cheapWith its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. "Never really knew it till now," he said. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. 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. 2. Video released to KOMO News from the Port of Seattle capture the final moments of Richard Russell who took a Horizon Air plane from SeaTac Airport without authorization, performed acrobatic. 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. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. "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. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. 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. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. I don't need that much help. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. August 22, 1979. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images "I lift a lot of bags. "It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did thisJust a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.". 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? "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. 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. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. 2023 Cable News Network. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. There were no passengers aboard. U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane.