Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. He was on meth.. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. [4][13] A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling tanker was also scrambled from Fairchild Air Force Base to support the F-15 flight. More information as we learn more, Alaska Airlines wrote on Twitter around 9:20 p.m. on the west coast. They wont let anyone leave the airport while hes up there. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Patient, new father among 5 killed in medical flight crash, Medical aircraft crash in Nevada leaves 5 dead: report, 5 dead in small plane crash in Little Rock, Human error eyed as cause of Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72 people. 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.. Then he took an Alaska Airlines plane. The crisis has engulfed the West as a whole. HiIm a ground service agent. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Because I am a clinical psychologist, people come up to me after a news event like this and ask my opinion. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. He was a quiet and well-liked young man who was active in his church. 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. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. 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. They may not admit for a few days. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Richard Russell, a ground control agent, died after he stole the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August 2018 and drove it into the ground of a remote island in the Puget Sound . Richard Russell, AKA Rich, the man who took the Sea-Tac plane and crashed it. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. 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. . 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. On YouTube, he also went by the name Beebo Russell. Apparently someone stole a Horizon Q and is flying it over SeaTac. But after that apology, oblivion seemed like the only option left to him. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle . Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. Russell said to dispatchers, You think if I can land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot? and the Air Traffic Control tower said, I think they will give you a job doing anything if you pull this off. He replied, according to some sites, Yeah right! I sure married a nice pair of calves! she joked with a photo of the couple. My logo draft will be a generic suit case with minimalistic travel stickers, encircled by the text: Russell Hustle. [31][32] On August 12, the FBI said that it had recovered the flight data recorder along with components of the cockpit voice recorder. Seattle-Tacoma Intl. (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. On Facebook, his favorite quotes were religious in nature, including, God IS Love and No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death, this is the Power of Christ in Me, and a non religious line, This is America.. Hey, I found myself in a predicament. Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. 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. Its not clear how he pulled off the intense maneuvers captured on video. [6], The aircraft was stolen from Plane Cargo 1 at the north end of SeaTac Airport[6] and maneuvered to runway 16C via taxiways. in correct chronological orderthis took pIace over about 75 minutes. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! Everything is shutdown rn pic.twitter.com/AzebdIa3tP, City King (@CityKing_Gank_) September 3, 2022. And part of his job was to drive the tractor that backed the aircraft into position for takeoff. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. They turned him into a hero with the name, and with it came a lot of memes. 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 . Quite a scary experience. Others saw his opinions on certain topics as based. On August 10, 2018, Mr. Russell, known as Beebo to his friends and family, helped himself to a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 turboprop and took it on a 75-minute joyride. Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. As part of his job, Patterson was responsible for fuelling the aircraft. He was manic-depressive. KINGs Madison Wade reports. The aircraft had been in maintenance status and was parked in an otherwise-vacant space for work on the plane's, New Footage Shows Moments Before Seattle Man Crashed Plane in 2018, A newly released video sheds new light on the moments leading up to Richard Russell crashing a plane. Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018. Well chalk it up to that. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. But that flight was his last. 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At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. You couldnt even tell it was a plane except for some of the bigger sections, like the wing section, western Pacific region chief Debra Eckrote said. 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 went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. Russell took the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop from the northeast corner of the airport, according to the Times. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Posted Sep 24, 2018. 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. Other audio reported a ground stop was underway at SeaTac, the airport that services Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. "[17] He asked ATC if he could get a job as a pilot with Alaska Airlines if he successfully landed the aircraft. 2:18. Tower tracking flight and in contact. More recently, he listed his occupation as operations agent for Horizon Air at Sea-Tac since April 2018. Weird times. Meanwhile, various tributes to Russell were uploaded to YouTube (shown below). About. He had planned to seek a management position at Horizon Air or become a military officer after receiving his degree. 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. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. "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?" Would love your thoughts, please comment. Latest update from tower indicates no interest on his part to land the plane. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Wikipedia. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan and other online communities. But there appears to be no manifesto, no digital trail of warning signs from Russell. Sep 09, 2022 at 02:47PM EDT 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. We consider ourselves bakery connoisseurs and have to try a new one every place we go. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. The incident came to a tragic end when Russell intentionally crashed the plane into Ketron Island in Puget Sound, killing him. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. [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. 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. (Video: Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post). Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Psychology and the Mystery of the "Poisoned" Schoolgirls. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. On behalf of the family, we are stunned and heartbroken. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport. After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. He spun a plane around Friday evening without raising suspicion and climbed aboard with 76 empty seats behind him. [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! Pilot said it was most bizarre thing hed heard in his career. 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. 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 . Although he didnt have a pilots license, Russell knew how to work the plane from his experience as an airport employee, the FBI previously said. This incredible true story is the inspiration for SkyKing, a video installation and project created in summer 2020. The statement, he added, was the only one that will be released. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. People contended that he didnt want to die "he just wanted to feel alive for once in his life.. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. 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. The media also started sharing audio clips of ongoing conversations between Russell and an air traffic controller. The fire burned a 2-acre (0.8ha) area,[23] but was extinguished by the following morning. Family Left Heartbroken After Airline Worker Steals and Crashes Plane. After he landed, Mr. Walters was arrested and charged with unlawful operation of an aircraft within a controlled air traffic area. [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 was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. 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.. Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. [25][26] No injuries were reported to residents of the sparsely populated island despite the crash site being in close proximity to at least one cabin, which was occupied at the time of the incident. The new footage appears to show Russell wearing a shirt that reads "The Sky's No Limit . In 1993, Lawnchair Larry Walters was named an At-Risk Survivor in the annual Darwin Awards. He tilted the wings and rumbled low over Puget Sound. 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. I think I might mess something up there too. You can watch the video above. Audio released of Russells conversation with an air traffic controller suggests that he was struggling with mental health issues, but his motive for stealing the plane remains unclear. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. Seattle ground Horizon guy. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. He was dubbed Sky King and tributes were offered to him. Memes about Sky King spread across the internet after the incident. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. 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." I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Well chalk it up to that. This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and then crashed into his death. The fighter jets were scrambled from Portland. A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. 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. 2007-2023 Authorities said Russell was suicidal. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. 0:00. Ah, minimum wage. 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. #seatac., A woman named Robanne Stading wrote on Twitter, #seatac airport is on a ground halt because evidently a mechanic is flying an unauthorized flightseeing trip around the mtns. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. In July 2022, video was released that showed Russells last moments going through security, taking off in the plane, and communicating with air traffic control. 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. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible copycat this September. In a video he posted for a college class in December, Russell joked about the sometimes mundane duties of his job. I lift a lot of bags. [45] The aircraft was worth $30million, all of which was paid under the company's insurance policy "with no deductibles. This story has been shared 176,044 times. August 10, 2021 by Kirk Forlatt. 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 hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. This article was published more than4 years ago. 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. 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.. This is not a terrorist incident. 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. We decided to sell and move in 2015, because we were both so far removed from our families. People like me dont do things like that. The cockpit recordings are widely available online and it would be hard not to feel compassion while listening to them. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from SeattleTacoma International Airport (SeaTac) in Seattle, Washington. The majority of the memes are in celebration and memorial of Russell, while others are more trollish shitposts. Video related to richard russell, rich: 5 fast facts you need to know, Click to subscribe! This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Together, they started a bakery in North Bend, Oregon. Like a lot of bags. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. "[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. Legal Information: Know Your Meme is a trademark of Literally Media Ltd. By using this site, you are agreeing by the site's terms of use and privacy policy and DMCA policy. Periodically, his voice cut into the dispatches. The Sky King of Sea-Tac Airport. Mr. Russell chatted, not too calmly, but coherently, with an air traffic controller during his solo flight. The hardest part of stealing a commercial plane from an international airport was already over for Richard Russell. [14] The transmissions were quickly recorded and posted on social media websites. [18] He was active in his church and a leader in the local Christian youth ministry Young Life. "Nah, I'm a white guy." Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. There wasnt anything particularly wrong with them. Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner. When I arrived, he was in the kitchen, in the middle of his Sunday morning ritual of cleaning his cleaning supplies. Many saw Russell as a man suffering from depression and sympathized with him. 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. 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 [] Mourners gathered in the comments section of his YouTube video. [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. Literally Media Ltd. 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.). The flight data recorder may show how well Russell managed the aircrafts myriad functions.