This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and then crashed into his death. 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. I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. by This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. What have I done? But that flight was his last. Like a lot of bags. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. On Instagram, Hannah Russell posted recent photos with Rich. I have flown from Sea-Tac many times, and know the landmarks Russell mentions well (Mt. 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. In the audio clips, Russell calls himself "broken" and says he knows how to fly a little bit thanks to video games. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Filed under Yay air force . 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. Facebook/YouTube 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. [6], The aircraft was stolen from Plane Cargo 1 at the north end of SeaTac Airport[6] and maneuvered to runway 16C via taxiways. USA TODAY. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. Tribute to Richard Russell, Sky King - YouTube It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. [45] The aircraft was worth $30million, all of which was paid under the company's insurance policy "with no deductibles. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. I sure married a nice pair of calves! she joked with a photo of the couple. We love you bud. Rainier. 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. "[17] He asked ATC if he could get a job as a pilot with Alaska Airlines if he successfully landed the aircraft. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. Sep 09, 2022 at 02:47PM EDT About. 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.. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. This article was published more than4 years ago. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. [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). Im in the air right now. Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. Plane is a Q4. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement read. Periodically, his voice cut into the dispatches. 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. He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. "[38], Russell was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska, at the age of seven. [15] He said he was a "broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. "[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. Its not clear how he pulled off the intense maneuvers captured on video. Hello, Love. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long, another said. Magazines, stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Or create a free account to access more articles, 'Beebo Was Loved By Everyone.' A Port of Seattle official, Mike Pohl, said that Russell used an airport tractor to pull the parked plane onto a runway, which he would have known how to do, as part of his job in ground service was towing airplanes. Public acts of violence such as mass shootings often reflect the perpetrators troubled, dark past. This is a complete shock to us. | Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. He said of himself that, Ive got a lot of people that care about me. "[16][19] He added that he "wasn't really planning on landing it. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. Pilot said it was most bizarre thing hed heard in his career. I was kind of hoping that was gonna be it, you know? "Sky King" is a nickname given to 29-year-old ground service operator Richard Russell after he stole a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) and died after crashing on Ketron Island in Puget Sound. He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. On August 10th, 2018, Russell stole the airliner from a maintenance position at the Sea-Tac airport. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. I would hope it is for a guy like me. People on Twitter who were following the aviation audio reported that the man attempted a barrel roll with the plane at one point. He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. Hijacker does not know how to land the plane. Someone plucked a bag off a conveyor belt. 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. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. 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. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. Video related to richard russell, rich: 5 fast facts you need to know, Click to subscribe! 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. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. In the coming days, articles about the incident were published in The New York Times,[4] CBS News[6] and The Washington Post. Now video was released. He was 29 years old and a member of the ground crew at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, earning minimum wage. She foiled their plans. Russell cites his position at Horizon in his blog as well. [12] Flights in and out of SeaTac Airport were temporarily suspended. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. Its gonna be crazy, he said at one point in air traffic control transmissions. 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. 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. Richard Russell plane crash video was released. 2007-2023 It is not surprising that I thought of Larry Walters when I first heard about Richard Russell. He did a barrel roll in a stolen plane and went out in a blaze of glory. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. Theres something wrong with all of us. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. On 4chan,[7][8] threads dedicated to Russell were submitted over the next several days, many of which contained photoshops, image macros and fan arts praising the incident and referring to Russell as "Sky King" (shown below). The federal agencies will lead the investigation. In a video he posted for a college class in December, Russell joked about the sometimes mundane duties of his job. Today marks the third anniversary of the poetic death of Richard Russell, dubbed "Sky King," the young man who took an airplane for a glorious final flight. Hey all! Richard "Beebo" Russell: Sky King (throwback stolen - TigerDroppings One man wrote on Twitter, 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. 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. Holy smokes, Ive got to stop looking at the fuel because its going down quick.. [24] Delayed by the SteilacoomAnderson Island ferry, firefighters from West Pierce Fire and Rescue and other nearby departments arrived on the island about an hour and a half after the crash, where they then contended with the island's thick brush. I met my husband when a friend sent him over to my house to cure my hiccoughs. On July 2, 1982, a 33-year-old truck driver named Larry Walters took flight in a patio chair attached to more than 40 helium-filled weather balloons. "[22], The two F-15s attempted to direct the aircraft toward the Pacific Ocean, and did not fire at it. We were married one year later, and one month after that we opened a bakery which we successfully ran for 3 years, he explained on his website of his wife. Saw two fighter jets fly overhead then smoke pic.twitter.com/w0bveGUJQH, McKenna Brown (@mckenna_brown) August 11, 2018, A man named Ben Schaechter wrote on Twitter, Halfway down the runway on Alaska airlines out of Seattle and the pilot slams on the brakes and shares we must go back to the gate. Facebook After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle . [4][13] A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling tanker was also scrambled from Fairchild Air Force Base to support the F-15 flight. 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 works as an assistant pastry chef and . It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. "[43] Some co-workers said that Russell had probably trained himself to fly using amateur flight simulation software. For the full details on "Sky King" meme and viral story, be sure to check out our entry on the meme here for even more information. They wont let anyone leave the airport while hes up there. More recently, he listed his occupation as operations agent for Horizon Air at Sea-Tac since April 2018. His conversation with controllers revealed limited experience. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. RIP Rich. Other audio reported a ground stop was underway at SeaTac, the airport that services Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. Family friend Mike Matthews read a statement from Russells family that said the incident was a complete shock to them. I hope this prompts a nationwide discussion about mental healthcare overall. [20] They married in 2012. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan and other online communities. 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. Footage of Russell performing the barrel roll was captured on video by Facebook[2] user John Waldron. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. The day of the incident, a thread on 4chan's /pol/[14] board about the incident gained over 470 posts. 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? He met his wife, Hannah, in 2010 in Coos Bay, Oregon while we were both going to school, and the couple wed one year later, Russell wrote on his website. Around 9 PM Pacific Time on August 10th, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell, stole a Q400 airplane from Seattle Tacoma International Airport and went for a joyride into the abyss. You can listen to all of his SoundCloud clips here. 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. "Got a few screws loose, I guess. Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018, People posted photos and videos to Twitter of a plume of smoke and possible crash site. Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018. 1:10. (More info in comments) 2 years ago today, Richard Russell, an airport ground service agent with no piloting experience, stole an Alaska Airlines Dash 8 and performed various stunts over the Puget Sound before crashing the plane on a sparsely populated island. 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. Russell, the sole occupant during the flight, did not survive. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. He preciously worked as a ground service agent at Horizon from 2015 to present. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. ", Currently we have a 29yr old who stole this plane & is threatening to crash it into something. 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. Who Is The 'Sky King' Richard Russell And How Did He Earn His Title? Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. [7], SeattleTacoma air traffic control (ATC) maintained radio contact with the occupant. You can listen to more archived aviation audio on the incident here, some of which captures the mans voice: READ NEXT: TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. Gary Beck, CEO of Horizon Air, told The Seattle Times it was impressive that Russell pulled off incredible maneuvers like a barrel roll with no flying experience. 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. 'The man who always keeps me laughing': Airplane hijacker's wife gushes There is the runway just about a mile off your right side, do you see that? [23] The Q400 ultimately crashed at 20:43 local time[1] on Ketron Island in Puget Sound, Pierce County, Washington, killing the occupant and destroying the aircraft. Tower tracking flight and in contact. Men in the UK, aged 20 to 49, are more likely to die from . Ive got a lot of people that care about me. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! They are grounding all planes and waiting. 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. Facebook Richard Russell plane crash video was released. i cut the audio from a frequency hopper that caught some of what they said to each other. Weird times. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. 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 [] 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. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. A friend wrote on Facebook, So heart brokenhe was such a kind person to me. How was he able to take off without being stopped? Even the small sections, most of it doesnt resemble a plane.. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. He was a faithful husband, a loving son, and a good friend, Mike Mathews read from the statement at a press conference. The Port of Seattle released the video. [33], On November 9, the FBI stated that it had completed its investigation. He was always smiling.. A Tale of Two White Men - Medium People like me dont do things like that. #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. 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. That means I lift a lot of bags so many bags, he says. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. Compilation of footage of the aircraft being flown erratically in the vicinity of Seattle, and the pursuing F-15s, News report featuring surveillance footage, Man Steals a Passenger Plane and Crashes it Just After Takeoff (With Real Video), Washington State University Global Campus, "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Preliminary Report Accident Number: WPR18FA220", "Update on Investigation into Unauthorized Flight", "Alaska Air Horizon plane crashes after being stolen by airline employee", "How it unfolded: Full coverage of the Horizon Air crash and the man who stole the plane from Sea-Tac", "Stolen plane was chased by military jets before it crashed", "Crash: Horizon DH8D at Ketron Island on Aug 10th 2018, stolen aircraft crashed into forest", "Stolen plane closes Seattle-Tacoma airport before crashing", "Oregon F-15s Scramble To Seattle To Intercept Possibly Stolen Q400 Airliner (Updated)", "F-15Cs Intercept Stolen DASH-8 Airliner out of Seattle Tacoma Airport Before Crash", "LIVE: Plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashes on small island; no passengers on board", "Pilot wanted to do aerobatics, apologized for his actions as he spoke with air traffic control", "NORAD F-15Cs intercept suicidal pilot in dramatic chase near Seattle", "Passenger Plane Stolen by Employee Crashes on Island Near Seattle Airport", "Seattle hijacker's plane heist, midair stunts and fiery crash expose gaps in aviation security", "Richard Russell, 'Rich': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Airline worker who stole plane told air traffic control 'I don't want to hurt no one', "SeaTac Hijacker Had the Skills to Take Out a Skyscraper Horizon Air ground handler Richard Russell knew how to fly without tearing the plane apartand enough fuel to be a flying bomb. Authorities said Russell was suicidal. For Richard Russell. I suspect that most of the time they want to hear some kind of post-mortem diagnosis: He was a paranoid schizophrenic. Unclear if passengers are on board. [10] According to reports, Patterson called 911 from the plane and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. All Rights Reserved. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. Thanks for contacting us. At one point in the dramatic audio, Richard Russell told the tower he was losing an engine. [5] It was not scheduled to fly again that day. We believe there are no passengers on board. 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. In another moment, Russell said he was lightheaded and talked about adjusting the cabin pressure, but it was not clear whether he was able to do that. Richard "Skyking" Russell : r/lostgeneration After five hours, he arrived in a tow vehicle near the plane. He worked at the airline for more than three years, authorities said. August 10, 2021 by Kirk Forlatt. He attended Washington State Global University Campus from 2016-2017, seeking a bachelors degree in social science. Its gonna be crazy, he tells traffic control, according to the video provided to local Seattle news outlet KOIN.
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