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F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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. Like a lot of bags. With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. .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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. F-15 "pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe," the sheriff's office tweeted. An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. He was immediately killed. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. 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. All rights reserved. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. Discovery Company. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. . Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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? 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. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Amazingly, despite the unprecedented nature of this deadly feat, and the fact that it could have easily become a mass casualty event, Russells flight and fatal crash seemed to hardly make a splash in the national news. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. That includes both domestic and international flights. Russell was recorded having multiple conversations with air traffic controllers who were trying to talk him into landing. But could you start a left-hand turn, please?". 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. 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. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. 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. 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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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! Earlier in the flight, Russell says: "This is probably, like, jail time for life, huh? He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. 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,. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there," the man responded, later adding, "This is probably jail time for life, huh? The 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. How was a man able to steal and pilot a 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. 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. "Congratulations. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. . "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. He managed to proceed with his plan unmolested largely because no one thought twice about the baggage handler working in the airport's restricted spaces. Lee Callahan in the morning, and the No Repeat Workday while you work! The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 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. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. 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. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. Send us an email at [email protected], Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Bank accidentally left unlocked in Fresno, police say, Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Officials: Mother identified as shooter in murder-suicide in Ohio, Court finds Federal Way gun store in contempt of court. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. In a statement, the family says Richard Russell, whose nickname was "Beebo," was warm, kind and gentle. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. 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. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert.