Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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 . "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. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. 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. Im coming home! But it was not to be. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. "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. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. . 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. 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. It's unclear exactly what Mr Russell is doing during this time, but he eventually takes control of a pushback tug and readies the Alaska Air plane for takeoff. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. Russell, who was a ground services employee for Horizon Air, sat in the plane's cockpit for nearly an hour and a half before the unauthorized takeoff. 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. 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. 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. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. You know?". He did not survive the crash. Every time I traveled I would look out my plane window and see these sullen looking individuals leisurely pacing around, or hectically throwing bags into a cart. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". An hour and 45 minutes into the flight, Meyer crashed into the English Channel. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. 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 body camera and cell phone video shows firefighters climbing through dense brush and fallen trees to get to the crash site on Ketron Island. 2. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 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. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. Videos Show Richard Russell's Final Moments Before Shocking Plane Crash Richard Russell plane crash video from Sea-Tac | wltx.com "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. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. "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. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. . Aug. 12, 2018. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. As he flew the stolen 76-seat passenger plane above the Seattle area for nearly an hour on Friday night, Richard B. Russell was asked by an air . 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. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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. Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. CCTV Footage Shows Baggage Handler Stealing Plane, Crashes On Island - TMZ The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. 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 incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. The Sky Thief Richard Russell Plane Crash Video Gone Viral: What New Video Shows When Richard Russell Stole a Plane at Sea-Tac - Jalopnik Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. 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. 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. Cooper? "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. 2023 Cox Media Group. That's just not safe.". He was in the air for about an hour. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. Chilling CCTV footage shows Richard Russell stealing plane - HITC 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 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 went by "Beebo" on social media. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Colton Harris Moore only got 6 years for stealing a plane and crashing it. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. The NTSB is now processing the equipment. 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. 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. He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt. Like a lot of bags. I've played some video games before, he said. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. 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. Video from 2018 shows final moments of Sea-Tac Airport worker - KOMO Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. among other things. "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. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. According to his Facebook page, which had limited public access, he was from Wasilla, Alaska, and lived in Sumner, Washington, and was married in 2012. 4.3M views 7 months ago A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 2023 Cable News Network. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash Did you encounter any technical issues? / CBS/AP. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. All Rights Reserved. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. John Waldron was walking along a trail near the bay when he noticed the two military jets following a plane doing aerobatics. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma . 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,. Authorities said Russell did not have a pilot's license. In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! 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. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me," the man later said. 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? I've played some video games before," Russell responds. New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident Others include how, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attack, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. 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. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. 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. 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 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 . So many bags," he said. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. 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. Alaska Airlines flight 261 took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the morning of August 10, 2018. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. 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. During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. 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. 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! That includes both domestic and international flights. For one, Russell shouldn't have been able to board the plane alone, he said.