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. New surveillance. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! 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. Music from Green Day, Michael Jackson, Queen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, and more! KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. Now, nearly four years after the event, authorities have released new video footage showing how 28-year-old Russell who went by the nickname "Beebo" got through. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. 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. 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. 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. He passed a series of background checks to gain his position, as he didn't have any criminal convictions. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. That includes both domestic and international flights. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Its not yet known exactly what pre-existing psychological conditions Russell may have had, but in the course of his conversation with air traffic controllers he expresses racial resentment. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. He did not survive the crash. The incident, which the FBI's Seattle office did not consider terrorism, raises questions about airport security. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. 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. 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. ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". Discovery Company. 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 black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. They said it's clear Russell didn't intend to harm anyone, and "he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! "I lift a lot of bags. He was immediately killed. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." The job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. Richard Russell, 29, can be seen at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport driving a pushback tractor with an Alaska Air turboprop attached. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. 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. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. 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. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "Never really knew it till now," he said. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. Did you encounter any technical issues? Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. The FBI also said it found human remains among the wreckage. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a 'compassionate' man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash By Alex Horton August 13, 2018 at 8:01 a.m. EDT A Horizon Air employee described as. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. I've played some video games before, he said. "Congratulations. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Russell, a 3-1/2-year Horizon employee, worked as a ground service agent. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. 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. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Also see | 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. "I think I'm going to try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good I'll go nose down and call it a night," Richard Russell said from the cockpit, according to a recording of his conversation with the controller. 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. 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 he crashed 25 miles away. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. "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. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. That includes both domestic and international flights. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. "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 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. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. "The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat," said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, FBI probes how airline employee stole plane, FBI investigating how airline employee stole plane before crashing, New details emerge about employee who stole, crashed airplane, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization, push us to learn what we can from this tragedy. 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. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. 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. 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. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. The U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is online 24/7 to help you in a time of depression or desperation. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. 7 months ago. Like a lot of bags. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. The plane didn't require a key, but it did require buttons and switches to be activated in a particular order. 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. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. The worker performed several aerial stunts in the stolen aircraft before ultimately crashing on Ketron Island. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. 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. 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 . Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. What followed was a 73-minute joyride during which Richard Beebo Russell had a surprisingly candid conversation with air-traffic controllers as he pushed the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-engine plane through some daring acrobatic moves. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. Winter Weather Advisory expires for much of western Washington, Intertribal comedy sketch troupe performs 'Between Two Knees' at Seattle Rep, plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed, Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin, released the findings of its investigation, Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport, 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Like a lot of bags. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. Siddiq Saunderson Moved to L.A. and Immediately Bought a Prius, Millennials and Zillennials Can't Get Enough of Manual Transmissions, Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus (Lifetime Subscription), Tesla Investor Day 2023 Was Pretty Great if You Ignored Elon. The FBI will lead the investigation, said Eckrote, the NTSB regional chief. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. 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. All Rights Reserved. Newly-released videos from the Port of Seattle show the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane nearly four years ago. Data from the flight data recorder showed there was a significant sideslip on the airplane during the last minute of the flight, but the airplane appeared to stay in control, according to the FBI report. So many bags," he said. 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. August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM "I thought they were practicing for an air show," he said. . Ah, dammit. His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. "My husband and I are recently former Boeing employees, and we were wondering why a jet was near the passenger airplane," she said. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. 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. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. 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.