Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. A moniker quickly took hold, echoed by others. But is true.., Here is a statement from the family of Richard Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane, crashed it into Ketron Island.This is a complete shock to us. 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. I wouldnt want to do that. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The plane was grounded for the night after returning from Victoria, B.C., which was its final scheduled flight of the day. 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. This is "Sky King ~ Richard Russell" by Nibbus Jimmus on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. [14] The transmissions were quickly recorded and posted on social media websites. Patterson did not end up flying the plane into Walmart, instead landing in a field where he was arrested. But after that apology, oblivion seemed like the only option left to him. Phone scammers tried to rob a grandma in Canada. The libs are trying to solve the housing crisis in deep blue areas by having teachers live with their students. He was dubbed Sky King and tributes were offered to him. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . All Rights Reserved. Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. [41] They sold the bakery in 2015 so his wife could be closer to her family; they settled in Sumner, Washington, and Russell found employment with Horizon Air. The hardest part of stealing a commercial plane from an international airport was already over for Richard Russell. RIP Sky King, a user wrote. The cockpit recordings are widely available online and it would be hard not to feel compassion while listening to them. I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. The incident resulted in Russell losing his life when he crashed on Ketron Island in Puget Sound, but people on sites like 4chan refused to let his story end there. [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Footage of Patterson flying the plane went viral on social media and people quickly started comparing it to the 2018 Sky King incident. [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. [20] A veteran pilot said the maneuver "seemed pretty well executed, without either stalling or pulling the wings off. He worked at the airline for more than three years, authorities said. 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. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. This article was published more than4 years ago. I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. Who is the aircraft on Runway 1-6 center? an air traffic controller can be heard saying. [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. 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.. [33], On November 9, the FBI stated that it had completed its investigation. The wife of an airline employee who hijacked a plane in Seattle had recorded their seven happy years of marriage on Instagram, calling him 'the man who keeps me laughing'.. Richard Russell has . Russell told controllers midflight that he played video games in preparation, but it was not clear whether he meant flight simulators some of which are commercially available and depict exhaustive and realistic measures to start an aircraft. 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. I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. [4][6][9] A tow boat crew was the first to respond. He spoke of wanting to do "a couple maneuvers to see what it [the aircraft] can do", and requested the coordinates of an orca that had been brought to national attention, saying, "I want to go see that guy." 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. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. The fighter jets were scrambled from Portland. According to suicide prevention expert, Dr. Christine Moutier, middle-aged White men account for 70% of deaths from suicide each year. He did it because he was depressed. As David Hume observed, our brains habitually seek out causation and are restless until a cause, even an erroneous cause, is determined. He tilted the wings and rumbled low over Puget Sound. He would take my shifts if I needed. He had broken up with his girlfriend of 15 years and was having trouble finding steady work. Rick Christenson, who was previously an operational supervisor with Horizon Air and who watched Russells flight over Puget Sound, described Russell to the Times as a quiet guy. It seemed like he was well-liked by the other workers, Christenson said. August 12, 2018 1:05 PM EDT. (Video: Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post). Disclaimer: I am in no way proficient in the arts.. On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. (If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. "[18] He left no children. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. The family thanked authorities, Alaskair, the community and Russells friends and family. He had planned to seek a management position at Horizon Air or become a military officer after receiving his degree. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington, Russell wrote about himself and his wife online. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. 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. In 1993, Lawnchair Larry Walters was named an At-Risk Survivor in the annual Darwin Awards. About to take off. We know who he is. [6], The aircraft was stolen from Plane Cargo 1 at the north end of SeaTac Airport[6] and maneuvered to runway 16C via taxiways. I hope this prompts a nationwide discussion about mental healthcare overall. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. PostedSeptember 24, 2018 Other video shows him clocking in to work. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 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. Literally Media Ltd. 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. [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. I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. #iflyalaska #akedchat.. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and . There is the runway just about a mile off your right side, do you see that? He said of himself that, Ive got a lot of people that care about me. On October 6, 1993, now aged 44, he hiked into the Angeles National Forest and died by self-inflicted gunshot. U.S. Airlines Are Editing Their Websites to Remove Taiwan's Name at China's Request, What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. He is flying around the airport, he does not know how to land it. He gradually drifted into controlled airspace near Los Angeles International Airport, causing some alarm both to the authorities and to the pilots of at least two commercial jets. The FBI is investigating the stunning heist, which has raised concerns about the security of commercial aircraft and mental health issues among airline workers nearly 17 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. After 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 about why and how he undertook the ultimately fatal flight. 160. r/lostgeneration. The media also started sharing audio clips of ongoing conversations between Russell and an air traffic controller. My logo draft will be a generic suit case with minimalistic travel stickers, encircled by the text: Russell Hustle. 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. He was manic-depressive. Defying attacks, arts return to Somalia with first TV drama in 30 years, Divorced and remarried, these Afghan women are outlaws under Taliban rule. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. i cut the audio from a frequency hopper that caught some of what they said to each other. Although he was born in Key West, Fla. he moved to Wasilla when he was 7, according to a website he made in 2017. [39] He was an avid traveler and attended Washington State University Global Campus, majoring in social science. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. Commercial aircraft are complex machines, he said. The Port of Seattle released the video. On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. Although authorities have not released his name, The Seattle Times identified the man as Richard Russell. (@luketadams) August 11, 2018. Once I earn my Bachelors in Social Sciences I will either seek a management position where Im at now, or possibly join the military as an officer. For Richard Russell. RIP to the SkyKing. Wikipedia. Horizon Q4 prop hijacked by unauthorized person not a pilot. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle . My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. He also had a pellet gun, with which he eventually shot several of the balloons, beginning his slow descent. [12] His flight pattern was also shared online, with Twitter[13] user @RMaons writing, "SKY KING 2.0 ON FLIGHT RADAR, AIRCRAFT IS CALLED KING AIR LOOOL" (shown below, right). I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. As part of his job, Patterson was responsible for fuelling the aircraft. A friend wrote on Facebook, So heart brokenhe was such a kind person to me. On September 3rd, CNN reported that an airport worker named Cory Wayne Patterson had stolen a twin-engine plane from Tupelo Aviation and was threatening to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. First, it would provide a simple explanation that makes the incomprehensible seem comprehensible. 7 Ticking Time Bombs That Destroy Loving Relationships, The Single Best (and Hardest) Thing to Give Up, 3 Ways to Reclaim Your Hope and Happiness. 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. Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airportin August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget Sound, authorities said at the time. [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. So many bags, he said. Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. The crisis has engulfed the West as a whole. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. 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.. 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. 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. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac . The story, despite seeming near-mythic, is true. 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. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. He flew around as an air traffic controller calmly tried to reason with him. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. He was a faithful husband, a loving son, and a good friend, Mike Mathews read from the statement at a press conference. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. Lee Goldberg. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Without Him we would be hopeless. #SeaTac @king5 #ketron #dupont #andersonisland pic.twitter.com/78LC5PXKhU, Katreichel (@Katreichelart) August 11, 2018, The Sheriffs Department also wrote: Told F 15s made it within a few minutes of theft of plane. The episode has also suggested that Russell was more complicated than the easygoing persona of his known online footprint. 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. Richard Russell had a website that appears to have been for a college communications class. Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. Family Left Heartbroken After Airline Worker Steals and Crashes Plane. 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 audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Another called it cathartic and liberating.. I think I might mess something up there, too. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. [34][35] The FBI stated, "Interviews with work colleagues, friends, and familyand review of text messages exchanged with Russell during the incidentdid not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology. Im in the air right now. Yay air force . Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. We love you bud. Happening right now. Phillip Hamilton. Second, psychiatric diagnosis also suggests simple solutions to complex problems: If he did it because he was mentally ill, we need more widely available mental health services.. 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. They may not admit for a few days. Below are some of the clips. 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. "Got a few screws loose, I guess. He jokes around with the air traffic controller as he tries to explain to Russell how to land the plane, although as the conversation goes on that doesn't seem to be his intention, even saying, "I wasn't really planning on landing it." Beck said the aerial maneuvers were "incredible" and that he "did not know how [Russell] achieved the experience that he did. 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. 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? The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Authorities said Russell was suicidal. [5] A nearby Alaska Airlines jet on the ground reported that the aircraft began a takeoff roll with its wheels smoking,[5] and an unauthorized take-off was made at 19:32 local time (02:32 UTC, August 11). [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". At one point in the dramatic audio, Richard Russell told the tower he was losing an engine. I love my parents and sister this isn't your fault. Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. They said the family is moving forward with the difficult talk of processing our grief and asked for space to mourn. She posted a series of selfies showing the couple on various adventures. KINGs Madison Wade reports. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. He spun a plane around Friday evening without raising suspicion and climbed aboard with 76 empty seats behind him. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. Someone sneak on board?, A man named Tyler Lucas wrote, Sitting on the runway at SeaTac, preparing for departure. Now video was released. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. Sadly, he did not survive much longer at all. Oh, a purple one! Russell exclaimed. steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner. I think Im gonna try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good, Im just gonna nose down and call it a night.. The equipment was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. After five hours, he arrived in a tow vehicle near the plane. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Videos posted to social media showed the other side of his skills. He was always smiling.. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Hijacker does not know how to land the plane. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. Pilot said it was most bizarre thing hed heard in his career. The story, despite seeming near-mythic, is true. At one point, the controller suggests he might be able to get a job as a pilot after this and Russell replies, "Nah, I'm a white guy." Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Never really knew it until now. 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. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash. We decided to sell and move in 2015, because we were both so far removed from our families. Together, they started a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Below are some of the clips. As the voice recordings show, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who love him.. Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. 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? A pair of F-15C jets were scrambled in response to Russells flight before he crashed one hour and 15 minutes after takeoff. At one point, Rich reported that he threw up all over the cockpit, according to the audio. This incredible true story is the inspiration for SkyKing, a video installation and project created in summer 2020. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. [28] It described the perpetrator, identified as 29-year-old Richard Russell,[29][30] as suicidal and said his actions did not constitute a "terrorist incident". Meanwhile, various tributes to Russell were uploaded to YouTube (shown below). [15] He said he was a "broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. 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.
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