He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She foiled their plans. Rainier. Russell, the sole occupant during the flight, did not survive. To the consternation of friends gathered to witness the launch, he quickly ascended out of sight and climbed to an altitude of 16,000 feet. Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. To download the mp3, right-click here and choose "save link as" or "save target as." Around 9 PM Pacific Time on August 10th, 2018, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell, stole a Q400 airplane from Seattle Tacoma International Airport and went for a joyride [] 0:00. He stated that he did not want to hurt anyone,[17][19] and in the final minutes of the communication apologized to his friends and family. Like a lot of bags. Theyre not as easy to fly as, say, a Cessna 150, Beck said. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. ", "Plane Thief Said He Trained on Games, Didn't Plan to Land", "NORAD: Fighter jets were trying to direct stolen plane over Pacific Ocean when it crashed", "Towboat crew dropped everything to respond to Ketron Island crash", "Firefighters battle more than flames after Ketron Island plane crash", "Seattle plane crash: 'heartbroken' family remember gentle man who meant no harm", "Ketron Island residents grateful Horizon Air plane didn't crash into homes", "Thanks to everyone for sharing accurate information, insuring the public's safety. What have I done? My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. Updated Nov 30, 2022 at 4:37pm. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. 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. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. As of 2019[update], this clean up effort was still ongoing, with pieces of aircraft wreckage still being located on the island after the first anniversary of the incident. It was a lie. Mr. Russell chatted, not too calmly, but coherently, with an air traffic controller during his solo flight. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible copycat this September. Authorities described him as suicidal.. About to take off. Horizon Q4 prop hijacked by unauthorized person not a pilot. "Got a few screws loose, I guess. "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?" Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. A black family confronts a 70-year-old killing and a white mans exoneration, A Horizon Air employee described as suicidal stole an empty plane at Seattles airport and crashed it into a nearby island on Aug. 10. 160. r/lostgeneration. Even the small sections, most of it doesnt resemble a plane.. Since his famous flight, he had spent a lot of time hiking, reading the Bible, and volunteering with the Forest Service. You went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. "[20], Rolling Stone magazine investigated the incident and reported in 2021 that some of Russell's friends and family believe he may have suffered brain injuries during his football years in high school and college. Powered by. "[38], Russell was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska, at the age of seven. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, flew the plane for 73 minutes before crashing it into remote Ketron Island, which has fewer than 20 residents. The hardest part of stealing a commercial plane from an international airport was already over for Richard Russell. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. Aw man, those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there, Rich says. PostedSeptember 24, 2018 Ah, minimum wage. This story has been shared 110,450 times. 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.. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. Why did I do it? 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. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. I think I might mess something up there too. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. About to take off. Speculation has swirled over Russells intent. The incident came to a tragic end when Russell intentionally crashed the plane into Ketron Island in Puget Sound, killing him. Its gonna be crazy, he tells traffic control, according to the video provided to local Seattle news outlet KOIN. Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! With this blog I hope to showcase all that Ive learned in Ms. Newmans Communications 210 class., His WordPress page includes a sketch that reads, Continuing with the theme of ground service work and travel benefits, I plan to create a simple logo that expresses both. He was always smiling.. Never knew he was fighting a battle non of us knew about. 1.6K. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. Patterson did not end up flying the plane into Walmart, instead landing it in a nearby field where he was arrested. Luke Adams ? People like me dont do things like that. 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. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. (@luketadams) August 11, 2018. New footage has been released from a 2018 incident in which an airline ground service agent named Richard Russell stole a turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and crashed it into an island in the Puget Sound. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. [37] From early childhood he was known as "Beebo" to his friends and family. The episode has also suggested that Russell was more complicated than the easygoing persona of his known online footprint. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. He was very, very friendly automatically willing to bring everyone in, Hannah Holmes, who also participates in Young Life, told The Seattle Times. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. The family of a man who authorities say stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday and died when he later crashed the aircraft said they were . They turned him into a hero with the name, and with it came a lot of memes. Just kind of soaring around, he told air traffic control. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. 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. Then, about an hour after he took off, Russell plunged into sparsely populated Ketron Island 25 miles southwest of the airport, sparking an intense fire. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. [4] The New York Times Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, [5] The Washington Post Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, [6] CBS News Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, [10] CNN Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, [14] 4chan Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi, Newly released CCTV footage captures the harrowing moment a Washington state airport employee stole an Alaska Airlines plane and took it for a joyride before fatally crashing it. Human remains were recovered from the site, the FBI said Sunday, and Russell is presumed dead in the crash. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt that says "the sky's no limit." Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Im in the air right now. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man. I sure married a nice pair of calves! she joked with a photo of the couple. 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. The majority of the memes are in celebration and memorial of Russell, while others are more trollish shitposts. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. [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). Never really knew it until now. 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. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long, another said. The video shows Russell wearing a shirt that reads The skys no limit, as he passed through security at the airport, where he worked. [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. He also posted audio clips of interviews he conducted to SoundCloud for what appears to have been a multimedia college class. 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." Russell told air traffic controllers that he was a broken guy with a few screws loose, but also that he wanted to avoid injuring innocent people. Richard Russell plane crash video was released. I dont want to hurt no one. Another called it cathartic and liberating.. It had first flown in 2012 and was delivered new to Horizon Air in the same year. Tilden said that air traffic control was immediately aware that Russells take off in the aircraft was an unauthorized departure.. Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018, People posted photos and videos to Twitter of a plume of smoke and possible crash site. Together, they started a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. What now? I hope it doesnt ruin your day. Up until then, he had seemed torn between life and death, at least considering the possibility of attempting a landing or ditching the aircraft in the sea. 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. How was he able to take off without being stopped? [18] He was active in his church and a leader in the local Christian youth ministry Young Life. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was owner/operator of Hannah Maries Bakery from 2012 through 2015 in North Bend, Oregon. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan and other online communities. by Facebook [4][13] A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling tanker was also scrambled from Fairchild Air Force Base to support the F-15 flight. 7 things to know", "One year after stolen Horizon plane crash, scars remain on Ketron Island", "FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_Horizon_Air_Q400_incident&oldid=1136228770, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 10:06. He somehow managed to execute a barrel roll and a few other aerobatic maneuvers before crashing the aircraft onto a sparsely populated island, killing only himself. 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(If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. The family thanked authorities, Alaskair, the community and Russells friends and family. [31][32] On August 12, the FBI said that it had recovered the flight data recorder along with components of the cockpit voice recorder. 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. Never really knew it, until now., While Lawnchair Larry was mostly a figure of fun in our popular culture, many people responded to Rich Russells flight with a level of compassion unfamiliar in our social media age. He was dubbed Sky King and tributes were offered to him. Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. It is not surprising that I thought of Larry Walters when I first heard about Richard Russell. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process, 6 Signs That Youre Depressed and Ignoring It. Tower tracking flight and in contact. Now video was released. 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. 2007-2023 At one point, he says to the utterly professional air traffic controller, Im sorry about this. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. Apparently someone stole a plane from SeaTac? I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash. But that flight was his last. The plane started moving, but Russell jumped in the plane and took off. 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? Tower, you need to call and scramble now, one pilot warned, according to the video. Unclear if passengers are on board. Wife of Richard Russel, Hannahh Russel documented her seven-year-long marriage to the 29-year-old on Instagram ( Source : co ) "After failing to persuade Hannah of Alaska's awesomeness, we landed on Sumner due to its proximity to her family," he wrote in his blog. Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Phone scammers tried to rob a grandma in Canada. "[43] Some co-workers said that Russell had probably trained himself to fly using amateur flight simulation software. Known as Beebo to family and friends, Russell was in his youth a gregarious, outgoing star athlete at Wasilla High School in Alaska, according to The Anchorage Daily News, running track and wrestling. Others saw his opinions on certain topics as based. RIP to the SkyKing. pic.twitter.com/Ra4LcIhwfU. It was recovered along with the cockpit voice recorder, authorities said Sunday, amid a streak of disintegrated debris. Well chalk it up to that. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. Keep the aircraft nice and low, the tower responded to the man at one point, advising him to keep it over the water.