[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. Tilden said that air traffic control was immediately aware that Russells take off in the aircraft was an unauthorized departure.. [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. The incident aircraft was a Bombardier Q400, owned by Horizon Air (and operating for Alaska Airlines) with the registration N449QX[2][3][4] and serial number 4410. 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.. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . Damnit Andrew, peoples lives are at stake here, Rich said at one point in the audio, which you can listen to later in this article. [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. About to take off. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. At one point during the exchange, Russell said he knew how to put the landing gear down but that I really wasnt planning on landing it. Russel also told the controller that he was just a broken man.. KINGs Madison Wade reports. Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 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." Subscribe to NBC News: nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC Watch more NBC video: bit.ly/MoreNBCNews NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac . Privacy, Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups. So many bags, he said. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. | Hijacker does not know how to land the plane. He also posted audio clips of interviews he conducted to SoundCloud for what appears to have been a multimedia college class. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. Third, and perhaps most importantly, psychiatric diagnoses provide listeners with psychological distance from the victim. "[21] When an air traffic controller requested he land the plane after this maneuver, he said "I don't know. On August 11th, 2018, a post about the plane crash was submitted to 4chan's /pol/ board,[1] where an anonymous user replied "Sky King?" Magazines, stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Or create a free account to access more articles, 'Beebo Was Loved By Everyone.' The crisis has engulfed the West as a whole. Family Left Heartbroken After Airline Worker Steals and Crashes Plane. 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. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash. [46][47], N449QX, the aircraft involved in the incident, pictured 2 months before the crash. On Facebook, he had liked the Republican Party and conservative personalities like Sean Hannity and Ben Shapiro. However, late in the evening of August 10, 2018, tower audio indicated that some planes were being released. [5] Seattle Tower tried several times to get the pilot of the aircraft to identify himself on frequency, but received no response. I dont want to hurt no one. #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. Disclaimer: I am in no way proficient in the arts.. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. I was kind of hoping that was gonna be it, you know? The individual did use a pushback tractor to rotate the aircraft 180 degrees so he could then taxi the aircraft, Pohl said at the news conference Saturday. Phillip Hamilton. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. [20] They married in 2012. In the coming days, articles about the incident were published in The New York Times,[4] CBS News[6] and The Washington Post. 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. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. Human remains were recovered from the site, the FBI said Sunday, and Russell is presumed dead in the crash. Buy "Richard "SkyKing" Russell" by BogTron as a Sticker. ", Currently we have a 29yr old who stole this plane & is threatening to crash it into something. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. "[18] Unclear if passengers are on board. Apparently someone stole a plane from SeaTac? Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. [20], On April 14, 2022, the FBI released 500 pages of previously classified documents related to the investigation. He was a faithful husband, a loving son, and a good friend, the family said in the statement, which was read by a friend, Mike Mathews, ABC reported. [18] After the incident, Joel Monteith, a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, relayed to an emergency dispatcher that in 2017, he saw Russell and another man "pointing and flipping switches" in the cockpit of a SkyWest aircraft parked at SeaTac Airport. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long, another said. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire . 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. After listening many times to the recordings, I found his voice - alternately warm, scared, and funny - to . His familys brief statement did not address any potential mental health issues. [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". Never actually wanted to hurt anyone. Pilot said it was most bizarre thing hed heard in his career. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Psychology and the Mystery of the "Poisoned" Schoolgirls. [18] He was active in his church and a leader in the local Christian youth ministry Young Life. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. Russell cites his position at Horizon in his blog as well. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. He carried with him a CB radio, sandwiches, beer, and a camera. Keep the aircraft nice and low, the tower responded to the man at one point, advising him to keep it over the water. The Port of Seattle released the video. [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. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. As Melville noted, We are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending., Be wary of simple explanations of any human behavior, and of simple solutions for complex problems. Filed under He had broken up with his girlfriend of 15 years and was having trouble finding steady work. Damnit Andrew, peoples lives are at stake here, Rich said at one point in the audio, which you can listen to later in this article. 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? He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. Authorities said they did not believe he had a pilots license. As users on Twitter and 4chan shared and discussed the story and further learned about Russell through the conversations with air traffic control and subsequent articles about his life, they deemed him "Sky King" as a title of respect. Authorities said Russell was suicidal. Happening right now. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. This video is not meant to glamorize suicide. Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. He grins in selfies at work. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. He then boards an empty 70-seater plane and took off. The hardest part of stealing a commercial plane from an international airport was already over for Richard Russell. The Russell family released a statement Saturday evening, saying they were stunned and heartbroken over the incident and the loss of aman they called Beebo. "Guides" Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Never really knew it until now. There wasnt anything particularly wrong with them. [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). Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. A moniker quickly took hold, echoed by others. Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. After he landed, Mr. Walters was arrested and charged with unlawful operation of an aircraft within a controlled air traffic area. You can listen to more archived aviation audio on the incident here, some of which captures the mans voice: The site Airline Geeks.com reported, Reports saying that two F-15s have intercepted an Alaska Air Q400, operated by Horizon Air., The Twitter page Royal S. King wrote, On a lake in Tacoma and 2 F-15 have intercepted at @AlaskaAir Q400 south of @SeaTacAirport. Another man wrote, @flytruenorth Are you following this story? The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains). 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. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. The video shows Russell wearing a shirt that reads The skys no limit, as he passed through security at the airport, where he worked. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. Not entirely sure whats happening. How was he able to take off without being stopped? I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. 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. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. In the audio clips, Russell calls himself "broken" and says he knows how to fly a little bit thanks to video games. But after that apology, oblivion seemed like the only option left to him. Richard "Beebo" Russell grew up in Alaska, but moved around and got married before he ended his life in Washington when he stole a passenger airplane and crashed it on a Puget Sound island. A pair of F-15C jets were scrambled in response to Russells flight before he crashed one hour and 15 minutes after takeoff. Someone sneak on board?, A man named Tyler Lucas wrote, Sitting on the runway at SeaTac, preparing for departure. He had planned to seek a management position at Horizon Air or become a military officer after receiving his degree. . Another called it cathartic and liberating.. Its gonna be crazy, he said at one point in air traffic control transmissions. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. SeaTac airport., Morgan Chesky, a reporter for KOMO News, wrote, Per JBLM source: After being contacted by F-15s, stolen plane began to nose dive, crashing in north Pierce County., NTSB investigator Debra Eckrote held a Saturday morning press conference, the day after the crash, and indicated that investigators are trying to determine what his process was and where the aircraft was going. She identified Rich as ground support so, you know, they have access to aircraft, and described it as lucky that the plane crashed on a very underpopulated island.. The episode has also suggested that Russell was more complicated than the easygoing persona of his known online footprint. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. 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. The day of the incident, a thread on 4chan's /pol/[14] board about the incident gained over 470 posts. Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. Then, it segues into a montage of photos from Russells trips to Alaska, France, Ireland, and other places before ending with a scene from a family gathering. 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. He would take my shifts if I needed. Tower tracking flight and in contact. "Got a few screws loose, I guess. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. 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. Mr. Russell chatted, not too calmly, but coherently, with an air traffic controller during his solo flight. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was owner/operator of Hannah Maries Bakery from 2012 through 2015 in North Bend, Oregon. Acted alone he is 29 year old Pierce county residence. Its going to disappoint them to hear I did this, he hauntingly said before his death. The couple settled in Sumner, Wa., where Russell got a job at Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, so he could easily fly back to Alaska to see his own family. I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. 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. We love you bud. Apparently someone stole a Horizon Q and is flying it over SeaTac. He did a barrel roll in a stolen plane and went out in a blaze of glory. Russell was active in his local community, serving as a leader at Young Life, a Christian youth ministry. A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. "[16] When ATC suggested that the plane be landed at Joint Base LewisMcChord, the occupant refused: "Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there. Ah, minimum wage. Male is confirmed a suicidal male. For Richard Russell. Stay tuned., Another indicated, Seatac airspace closed. Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. About to take off. All Rights Reserved. I think I might mess something up there, too. He was always smiling.. Russell flew wild loops over Puget Sound, screamed low over frightened onlookers and had existential and, at turns, bizarre chats with air traffic controllers as two Air Force F-15 jets gave chase. On August 10th, 2018, a service agent for Horizon Air named Richard "Beebo" Russell used his position to steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. No others involved., @KING5Seattle heres a video of the hijacked plane and fighter escort from Steilacoom in the ferry line for anderson Island pic.twitter.com/8fgAUe05xv. After attempting the aircraft took off, two F-15 fighter jets were deployed. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018. Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. "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?" [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. pic.twitter.com/5z4BYRBrcU, Kierra Elfalan (@KierraElfalanTV) August 12, 2018. Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. [36] He had been part of a tow team, which repositions aircraft on the airport apron, for about four years. 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. Failing to convince Hannah of Alaskas greatness, we settled on Sumner because of its close proximity to her family., Richard added, I, meanwhile, obtained a job working for Horizon Airlines (partnered with Alaska Airlines) so Im able to fly to Alaska at my leisure. 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.. It's Been Almost 8 Years Since The 'Sad Satan' Phenomenon, And People Still Aren't Sure What Happened, If You're Always In The Passenger Seat, You Might Be A 'Passenger Princess', Controversial Ontario High School Teacher Placed On Leave By School Board, The 'Whatever' 'Dating Talk' Podcast Keeps Going Viral For 'Triggering' Its Young Woman Guests, 4chan Turns Disgraced Cartoonist Scott Adams Into A Meme. I sure married a nice pair of calves! she joked with a photo of the couple. RIP Sky King, a user wrote. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. His performance there was a disappointment; he left for Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he met his wife at a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. 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. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. 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. Updated Nov 30, 2022 at 4:37pm. Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. HiIm a ground service agent. We know who he is. The man, known as Rich in air traffic control audio and dubbed the sky king on Twitter, broke hearts on social media as people followed the unauthorized flight before it came to a fatal end. Aw man, those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there, Rich says. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. Seattle ground Horizon guy. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Weird times., CBS News reporter Kris Van Cleave wrote, FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle. He shared a tweet from a woman named Victoria, who wrote, Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. Then he took an Alaska Airlines plane. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Weird times. To impress a woman, he arrived in a helicopter to take her on a classified mission, officials said. 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. What now? Powered by. 0. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. Literally Media Ltd. They may not admit for a few days. Teachers are quitting and they will have no one to run their schools, but they still won't give in and support solutions that would hurt property values. [20], Videos and radio transmissions of the event were followed online, immediately sparking a meme dubbing Russell the "Sky King". Other video shows him clocking in to work. This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and then crashed into his death. He played athletics in high school in Wasilla, Alaska. Theres something wrong with all of us.
