Although he was born in Key West, Fla. he moved to Wasilla when he was 7, according to a website he made in 2017. He worked at the airline for more than three years, authorities said. Sea-Tac Airport (@SeaTacAirport) August 11, 2018. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. I was kind of hoping that was gonna be it, you know? Luke Adams ? 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. 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.. 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. "[18] 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. [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. That means I lift a lot of bags so many bags, he says. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. Commercial aircraft are complex machines, he said. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . They turned him into a hero with the name, and with it came a lot of memes. Russells social media accounts have become funeral guestbooks, digitized for the world. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. 0. If you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. So many bags, he said. Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. Richard Russell, who dreamed of being in the military and once ran a bakery with his wife, was identified as the suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport 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. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. He was always smiling.. by 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." First, it would provide a simple explanation that makes the incomprehensible seem comprehensible. They wont let anyone leave the airport while hes up there. After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. For Richard Russell. Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. Monteith also recalled that Russell had been in the cockpit of an Embraer 175 with him, and that Russell asked him about his "flows, which is the preflight preparation I do for takeoff. 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. 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.. Russell took the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop from the northeast corner of the airport, according to the Times. ", "Plane Thief Said He Trained on Games, Didn't Plan to Land", "NORAD: Fighter jets were trying to direct stolen plane over Pacific Ocean when it crashed", "Towboat crew dropped everything to respond to Ketron Island crash", "Firefighters battle more than flames after Ketron Island plane crash", "Seattle plane crash: 'heartbroken' family remember gentle man who meant no harm", "Ketron Island residents grateful Horizon Air plane didn't crash into homes", "Thanks to everyone for sharing accurate information, insuring the public's safety. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. "[17] He asked ATC if he could get a job as a pilot with Alaska Airlines if he successfully landed the aircraft. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Hello, Love. He also posted audio clips of interviews he conducted to SoundCloud for what appears to have been a multimedia college class. Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. 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. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. You went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. 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. 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. [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. "[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. Everything is shutdown rn pic.twitter.com/AzebdIa3tP, City King (@CityKing_Gank_) September 3, 2022. The man who stole a commercial aeroplane in Seattle, and took his life by crashing it, has become a folk hero to neo-Nazi groups and incels, drafted into a poisonous delusion that is becoming mainstream. [5] Seattle Tower tried several times to get the pilot of the aircraft to identify himself on frequency, but received no response. The plane was grounded for the night after returning from Victoria, B.C., which was its final scheduled flight of the day. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. Meanwhile, various tributes to Russell were uploaded to YouTube (shown below). He doesnt sound confident in his ability to land back at SeaTac. On July 2, 1982, a . He carried with him a CB radio, sandwiches, beer, and a camera. However, late in the evening of August 10, 2018, tower audio indicated that some planes were being released. Apparently someone stole a plane from SeaTac? On Instagram, Hannah Russell posted recent photos with Rich. 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. SeaTac air traffic control made radio contact with Russell, the sole occupant, who described himself as a "broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess." Russell told 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. 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Wife of Richard Russel, Hannahh Russel documented her seven-year-long marriage to the 29-year-old on Instagram ( Source : co ) "After failing to persuade Hannah of Alaska's awesomeness, we landed on Sumner due to its proximity to her family," he wrote in his blog. Heres hoping that the next Rich crashes on a couch of a good listener. Im praying for #Rich tonightnot just the guy who stole a plane from #SeaTac, but every guy like Rich who (it seemsbut Ill admit Im assuming a lot here) is suffering and cannot find a better way out. 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. 2:18. Richard Russell had a website that appeared to have been for a college communications class. Phone scammers tried to rob a grandma in Canada. The final descent at Ketron Island was determined to be intentional, and suicide was listed as the manner of death. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. 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. 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. If he was bipolar and did that, then I dont have to worry about doing that, because Im not bipolar. That is something that they do. 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. 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. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. Radio banter in between, ending with the intercept audio for Rock 41 and Rock 42. suicidepreventionlifeline.org afsp.org AIRBOYD #SeaTac #ChambersBay #Q400 #Horizon. 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. Plane is a Q4. Rainier. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital What now? Russells family released a statement to the news media expressing great shock and remembering Russell for his compassion. Richard Russell, AKA Rich or Beebo Russell, was named as the airport mechanic who stole a Horizon plane at Sea-Tac and crashed it. Unclear if passengers are on board. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. More recently, he listed his occupation as operations agent for Horizon Air at Sea-Tac since April 2018. 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. Powered by. KINGs Madison Wade reports. Rest in peace Rich. 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. August 12, 2018 1:05 PM EDT. The statement, he added, was the only one that will be released. Will many of us have a better story to tell when we get to wherever were going, one Reddit user saidin a thread. Literally Media Ltd. Since his famous flight, he had spent a lot of time hiking, reading the Bible, and volunteering with the Forest Service. In the audio clips, Russell calls himself "broken" and says he knows how to fly a little bit thanks to video games. Happy to read and share the best inspirational Sky King Richard Russell quotes, sayings and quotations on Wise Famous Quotes. Russell flew the plane around Seattle for an hour while National, New Video Shows Man Stealing Horizon Air Plane In 2018 Incident, Newly-obtained surveillance video from 2018 shows how Richard Russell, then a Horizon Ground service agent with no pilot experience, successfully stole the plane before crashing to his death. Tilden said that air traffic control was immediately aware that Russells take off in the aircraft was an unauthorized departure.. 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.. Hey, I found myself in a predicament. 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! [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. The day of the incident, a thread on 4chan's /pol/[14] board about the incident gained over 470 posts. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. . 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. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. 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. Many saw Russell as a man suffering from depression and sympathized with him. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. Someone sneak on board?, A man named Tyler Lucas wrote, Sitting on the runway at SeaTac, preparing for departure. 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." steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner. 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. He has buzzed Mt Rainer and the Seattle area. The libs are trying to solve the housing crisis in deep blue areas by having teachers live with their students. Hearing a diagnosis would comfort them somehow. Many people online compared the incident to 2018's incident with Richard Russell, calling Patterson "Sky King 2.0" or "Sky King 2. I dont want to hurt no one. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. "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. Now, in new footage of the moments before he took off, the 29-year-old can be seen walking through airport security with a The Skys No Limit T-shirt. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. About to take off. ATC said, "they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off", to which he replied, "Yeah right! I wouldnt want to do that. Keep the aircraft nice and low, the tower responded to the man at one point, advising him to keep it over the water. These statements should probably be considered the emotional projections of similarly disaffected people. 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. A moniker quickly took hold, echoed by others. 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 . Below are some of the clips. [20], On April 14, 2022, the FBI released 500 pages of previously classified documents related to the investigation. (@luketadams) August 11, 2018. ? wrote one woman on Twitter, echoing the comments of many people who heard the audio. Russell had no formal training as a pilot and did not have his pilots license. Sadly, he did not survive much longer at all. 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. 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. Not entirely sure whats happening. Lee Goldberg. Wish me luck! ", Currently we have a 29yr old who stole this plane & is threatening to crash it into something. 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. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. 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. 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? I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. 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. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. After five hours, he arrived in a tow vehicle near the plane. The plane crashed through several lines of 100-foot trees, the National Transportation Safety Board said, according to CNN. Then, about an hour after he took off, Russell plunged into sparsely populated Ketron Island 25 miles southwest of the airport, sparking an intense fire. 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. I got a lot of people that care about me. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. 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. Defying attacks, arts return to Somalia with first TV drama in 30 years, Divorced and remarried, these Afghan women are outlaws under Taliban rule. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. Richard Russell had a website that appears to have been for a college communications class. With this blog I hope to showcase all that Ive learned in Ms. Newmans Communications 210 class., His WordPress page includes a sketch that reads, Continuing with the theme of ground service work and travel benefits, I plan to create a simple logo that expresses both. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. About to take off. Theyre not as easy to fly as, say, a Cessna 150, Beck said. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. Authorities said they did not believe he had a pilots license. [33], On November 9, the FBI stated that it had completed its investigation. HiIm a ground service agent. He left no children. After taking off, an air traffic controller said, He needs some help controlling his aircraft. Russell responded: Nah, I mean, I dont need that much help. Russell was active in his local community, serving as a leader at Young Life, a Christian youth ministry. 2007-2023 Literally Media Ltd. [45] The aircraft was worth $30million, all of which was paid under the company's insurance policy "with no deductibles. Who's Afraid of the Rorschach Inkblot Test? It's Been Almost 8 Years Since The 'Sad Satan' Phenomenon, And People Still Aren't Sure What Happened, If You're Always In The Passenger Seat, You Might Be A 'Passenger Princess', Controversial Ontario High School Teacher Placed On Leave By School Board, The 'Whatever' 'Dating Talk' Podcast Keeps Going Viral For 'Triggering' Its Young Woman Guests, 4chan Turns Disgraced Cartoonist Scott Adams Into A Meme. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. Like a lot of bags. He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. Nah, I'm a white guy. The general feeling was, "It is a wonder that more of us don't crack from the tedium and meaninglessness of our consumer culture." "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?" The majority of the memes are in celebration and memorial of Russell, while others are more trollish shitposts. A friend wrote on Facebook, So heart brokenhe was such a kind person to me. in correct chronological orderthis took pIace over about 75 minutes. The mans bizarre and ultimately doomed flight pushed fighter planes into action. USA TODAY. 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 .
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