Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said at a news conference Saturday that Russell worked for Horizon Air for four years and was on the clock and in uniform when he stole the twin-engine turboprop plane, which was parked in a cargo lot at the time. Patterson did not end up flying the plane into Walmart, instead landing in a field where he was arrested. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. On Facebook, he had liked the Republican Party and conservative personalities like Sean Hannity and Ben Shapiro. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man. "[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. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire on him, authorities said. He was a quiet and well-liked young man who was active in his church. Who's Afraid of the Rorschach Inkblot Test? Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. He was married and completing a bachelors degree. Radio banter in between, ending with the intercept audio for Rock 41 and Rock 42. suicidepreventionlifeline.org afsp.org AIRBOYD #SeaTac #ChambersBay #Q400 #Horizon. She posted a series of selfies showing the couple on various adventures. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. Tower, you need to call and scramble now, one pilot warned, according to the video. This article was published more than4 years ago. The fire burned a 2-acre (0.8ha) area,[23] but was extinguished by the following morning. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. ATC said, "they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off", to which he replied, "Yeah right! 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. 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. However, late in the evening of August 10, 2018, tower audio indicated that some planes were being released. What now? 0. I think I might mess something up there, too. [46][47], N449QX, the aircraft involved in the incident, pictured 2 months before the crash. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. Both were armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles[12] and went supersonic, generating sonic booms on the way to the Puget Sound area. At one point, he says to the utterly professional air traffic controller, Im sorry about this. Never knew he was fighting a battle non of us knew about. Authorities said Russell was suicidal. Russells family released a statement to the news media expressing great shock and remembering Russell for his compassion. Mona Lazar. Another called it cathartic and liberating.. Weird times., CBS News reporter Kris Van Cleave wrote, FAA sources say it appears an airline employee stole a Horizon Air Turbo Prop from SeaTac and took off and crashed Ketron Island outside Seattle. He shared a tweet from a woman named Victoria, who wrote, Sitting on a plane at SeaTac Airport, a Horizon employee just hijacked an airplane. That means I lift a lot of bags so many bags, he says. Confirmed info .. this is a single suicide male. A pair of F-15C jets were scrambled in response to Russells flight before he crashed one hour and 15 minutes after takeoff. All Rights Reserved. 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. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Why did I do it? Theres something wrong with all of us. [7], SeattleTacoma air traffic control (ATC) maintained radio contact with the occupant. RIP to the SkyKing. The episode has also suggested that Russell was more complicated than the easygoing persona of his known online footprint. 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. I had this dream for 20 years, and if I hadnt done it, I think I would have ended up in the funny farm. That is an example of what we clinicians call good insight.. I don't want to. Nine-tenths of them are from a lower socioeconomic class. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. He had planned to seek a management position at Horizon Air or become a military officer after receiving his degree. 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. Excerpts taken from Mr. Ballen 's video on the Sky king.Top 3 stories that sound fake but are 100% real | Part 5:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaa53S-8lDMMr.Ballen's Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtPrkXdtCM5DACLufB9jbsAHIJACKED SEATTLE PLANE INSANE FOOTAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL AUDIO, CRASH DAMAGE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeYVtVg6aGs Raw: Family Press Conference For Suicidal Mechanic Who Stole Plane In Seattle:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5fFJgdhBm4Stepbrother of Richard \"Beebo\" Russell talks about stolen plane incident:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FvRMhQ44kYMusicFrom Internet Archive, Public Domain MusicThe Pachelbel Canon: by Orchestre De Chambre Jean-Franois Paillardhttps://archive.org/details/lp_the-pachelbel-canon-and-other-baroque-favo_orchestre-de-chambre-jean-franois-paillard/disc1/01.02.+Canon+In+D+For+Strings+And+Continuo.mp3Pachelbel's Canon in D:https://archive.org/details/PachelbelsCanoninD [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. 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. On October 6, 1993, now aged 44, he hiked into the Angeles National Forest and died by self-inflicted gunshot. 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. 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." More information as we learn more. Periodically, his voice cut into the dispatches. About. Well chalk it up to that. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. Unclear if passengers are on board. Purportedly, when the arresting officers asked why he had risked his life with such a stunt, he said, A man cant just sit around., Later, he told the press, It was something I had to do. You went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. 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 . About to take off. On his blog, Richard talks about how he and his wife once ran a bakery. Was doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills caused crash into Island. The Sheriffs Department added, Two military F 15 chased plane but was not involved in crash and confirmed, No passengers on plane.. [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. Although official accounts other than through live aviation audio were hard to come by at first, many passengers took to social media to report that pilots were telling them a man had stolen a plane. 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. Among the memes are images of Wojaks veering off into the sunset alongside quotes from Russell, a selfie of Russell sitting in the cockpit of the plane and video edits using audio clips from the conversation between Russell and the air traffic controller mixed with sad music and effects to emphasize the tragedy behind the event. A lot of the people he was helping were troubled kids.. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. 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. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. Authorities said they dont think he had a pilots license and arent sure how he was able to take off, much less perform complicated tricks in the air like a barrel roll. At one point, Russell told a controller he had played a lot of video games. "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. Russell wrote that he was pursuing his Bachelor of Social Sciences and hoped to work his way up to a management position at Horizon Air or to join the military or law enforcement. Others saw his opinions on certain topics as based. Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018, People posted photos and videos to Twitter of a plume of smoke and possible crash site. I love my parents and sister this isn't your fault. We love you bud. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. Other audio reported a ground stop was underway at SeaTac, the airport that services Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. This video is not meant to glamorize suicide. He was manic-depressive. Posted Sep 24, 2018. According to suicide prevention expert, Dr. Christine Moutier, middle-aged White men account for 70% of deaths from suicide each year. Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. More information as we learn more, Alaska Airlines wrote on Twitter around 9:20 p.m. on the west coast. Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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). In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. Nah, I'm a white guy. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. When I heard that Mr. Russells aircraft had gone down, I thought, The poor bastard. And then I thought, How many tens of thousands of people are out there who are just like him?, Larry Walters and Rich Russell were people just like us. I was kind of hoping that was gonna be it, you know? The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding, Two Questions to Help You Spot a Clingy Partner-to-Be. 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. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains). 2007-2023 Literally Media Ltd. [20] They married in 2012. But there appears to be no manifesto, no digital trail of warning signs from Russell. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. Russell, who was a ground service employee for Horizon Air and did not have a pilots license, took the twin-engine turboprop plane from a maintenance area where it was parked at the airport. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 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." People like me dont do things like that. He also had a pellet gun, with which he eventually shot several of the balloons, beginning his slow descent. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. Russells social media accounts have become funeral guestbooks, digitized for the world. [37] From early childhood he was known as "Beebo" to his friends and family. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. It was recovered along with the cockpit voice recorder, authorities said Sunday, amid a streak of disintegrated debris. Latest update from tower indicates no interest on his part to land the plane. 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, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted stunts in the air before the plane crashed. Richard Russell, AKA Rich, the man who took the Sea-Tac plane and crashed it. How was he able to take off without being stopped? Hello, Love. He appeared regretful about the pain he knew would inevitably visit his family. Seattle ground Horizon guy. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. After attempting the aircraft took off, two F-15 fighter jets were deployed. But that flight was his last. 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. 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. I wouldnt want to do that. Hey, I found myself in a predicament. 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 waitress, according to her social media account. His conversation and tone is very casual. Hey all! The final descent at Ketron Island was determined to be intentional, and suicide was listed as the manner of death. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Plane is a Q4. ? wrote one woman on Twitter, echoing the comments of many people who heard the audio. "Nah, I'm a white guy." The equipment was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. After he landed, Mr. Walters was arrested and charged with unlawful operation of an aircraft within a controlled air traffic area. Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. [4] It landed at SeattleTacoma International Airport at 13:35 local time the afternoon of the incident, after an in-service flight from Victoria, British Columbia. His familys brief statement did not address any potential mental health issues. Residents of the island bore some of the cost for cleaning up, and negotiations were initiated for their reimbursement by Alaska Airlines' insurers. in. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. According to Eckrote, the plane is highly fragmented and she said that a background investigation is underway to further clarify Richs motive. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. (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. We decided to sell and move in 2015, because we were both so far removed from our families. 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 . I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. 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 . People contended that he didnt want to die "he just wanted to feel alive for once in his life.. Many people online compared the incident to 2018's incident with Richard Russell, calling Patterson "Sky King 2.0" or "Sky King 2. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. 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. Who Is The 'Sky King' Richard Russell And How Did He Earn His Title? Sadly, he did not survive much longer at all. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash. Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. But he mentioned video games during his recorded conversation with air traffic control, which some have taken as a reference to flight simulator software. These statements should probably be considered the emotional projections of similarly disaffected people. Since his famous flight, he had spent a lot of time hiking, reading the Bible, and volunteering with the Forest Service. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. After five hours, he arrived in a tow vehicle near the plane. As part of his job, Patterson was responsible for fuelling the aircraft. 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., Hannah Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Perhaps the least we should do in the wake of such tragedies is to reflect upon the words attributed to Philo of Alexandria: Be kind, for everyone you meet is in the midst of a great struggle.. [4][13] A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling tanker was also scrambled from Fairchild Air Force Base to support the F-15 flight. He left no children. 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. ?, One woman wrote on Twitter, he has stolen a big Horizon turbo prop. [20], On April 14, 2022, the FBI released 500 pages of previously classified documents related to the investigation. Although he was born in Key West, Fla. he moved to Wasilla when he was 7, according to a website he made in 2017. 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. On August 10th, 2018, Russell stole the airliner from a maintenance position at the Sea-Tac airport. 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 . More recently, he listed his occupation as operations agent for Horizon Air at Sea-Tac since April 2018. Beck said the aerial maneuvers were "incredible" and that he "did not know how [Russell] achieved the experience that he did. They were born, they laughed, they struggled, they loved, and they died. | Russell was active in his local community, serving as a leader at Young Life, a Christian youth ministry. "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. 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. People expressed an emotional connection with him through postings on social media, T-shirts, and tribute songs. Hijacker does not know how to land the plane. Family friend Mike Matthews read a statement from Russells family that said the incident was a complete shock to them. (shown below). He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Russell said on the aviation audio, This is probably jail time for life, huh? Filed under 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. Richard Russell had a website that appears to have been for a college communications class. 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. KINGs Madison Wade reports. Rest in peace Rich. Keep the aircraft nice and low, the tower responded to the man at one point, advising him to keep it over the water. Privacy, Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi. We had a ground stop for quite a while here, a dispatcher says. The airline confirmed that an unauthorized take-off occurred. 0:00. [10] According to reports, Patterson called 911 from the plane and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. 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. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Someone sneak on board?, A man named Tyler Lucas wrote, Sitting on the runway at SeaTac, preparing for departure. RIP Rich. Weird times. | First, it would provide a simple explanation that makes the incomprehensible seem comprehensible.
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