Someone plucked a bag off a conveyor belt. Its going to disappoint them to hear I did this, he hauntingly said before his death. Heres hoping that the next Rich crashes on a couch of a good listener. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. Now a family is left to reckon with tragedy, while strangers find grim inspiration in his final act. The flight data recorder may show how well Russell managed the aircrafts myriad functions. USA TODAY. You can listen to all of his SoundCloud clips here. [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! A childhood friend remarked that Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. [36] He had been part of a tow team, which repositions aircraft on the airport apron, for about four years. 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. 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 . A football teammate suggested his mental instability had been caused by undiagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy that may have come from repeated concussions. 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. On his blog, Richard talks about how he and his wife once ran a bakery. Disclaimer: I am in no way proficient in the arts.. 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. Patch confirmed there was a security incident underway at SeaTac. Happening right now. Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) August 11, 2018, People posted photos and videos to Twitter of a plume of smoke and possible crash site. We love you bud. On August 11th, 2018, a post about the plane crash was submitted to 4chan's /pol/ board,[1] where an anonymous user replied "Sky King?" He carried with him a CB radio, sandwiches, beer, and a camera. He went sightseeing along the Olympic mountain range. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. (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. At one point, Rich reported that he threw up all over the cockpit, according to the audio. Updated Nov 30, 2022 at 4:37pm. Pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe. Thanks for contacting us. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. 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. Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. I think I might mess something up there too. New footage has been released from a 2018 incident in which an airline ground service agent named Richard Russell stole a turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and crashed it into an island in the Puget Sound. Ah, minimum wage. He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. 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. [5], On September 3rd, 2022, it was reported that a 10-year Tupelo Aviation employee, Cory Wayne Patterson, stole a twin-engine plane from the Tupelo Regional Airport. 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. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. Why did I do it? We had a ground stop for quite a while here, a dispatcher says. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. "[38], Russell was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska, at the age of seven. What now? [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. The Pierce County Sheriff wrote on Twitter, Stolen horizon airplane crashed into Ketron island. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. He played athletics in high school in Wasilla, Alaska. quote: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in Seattle, Washington. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. Authorities described him as suicidal.. [14] The transmissions were quickly recorded and posted on social media websites. 2:18. He is not a pilot and does not know how to land the plane. 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. Monteith stated the men told him they were training to use the aircraft's auxiliary power unit so they could tow it, but said it was "suspicious" that they left when he confronted them. Not entirely sure whats happening. Without Him we would be hopeless. I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. According to Eckrote, the plane is highly fragmented and she said that a background investigation is underway to further clarify Richs motive. The plane was grounded for the night after returning from Victoria, B.C., which was its final scheduled flight of the day. Facebook/YouTube Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. 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. Who is the aircraft on Runway 1-6 center? an air traffic controller can be heard saying. After attempting the aircraft took off, two F-15 fighter jets were deployed. Gary Beck, chief executive of Horizon Air, told reporters Saturday that the acrobatics and maneuvers, including barrel rolls and one loop that brought Russell feet from the waters surface, wereincredible.. His conversation with controllers revealed limited experience. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. This article was published more than4 years ago. His familys brief statement did not address any potential mental health issues. He tilted the wings and rumbled low over Puget Sound. 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 . sky king, sky king memes, richard russell, 4chan, sky king 2, based. This story has been shared 110,450 times. 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? "Heroes" - Peter Gabriel These statements should probably be considered the emotional projections of similarly disaffected people. 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. 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. [18] He was active in his church and a leader in the local Christian youth ministry Young Life. At one point, Rich asked for help in getting the cabin depressurized, complaining he was getting lightheaded. I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. 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. [5] A nearby Alaska Airlines jet on the ground reported that the aircraft began a takeoff roll with its wheels smoking,[5] and an unauthorized take-off was made at 19:32 local time (02:32 UTC, August 11). They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible . It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement read. So I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. This incredible true story is the inspiration for SkyKing, a video installation and project created in summer 2020. 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. A former coworker, Rick Christenson, told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. ", "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. Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. So many bags, he said. He doesnt sound confident in his ability to land back at SeaTac. It is not surprising that I thought of Larry Walters when I first heard about Richard Russell. Ive played some video games before.. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. [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. Someone sneak on board?, A man named Tyler Lucas wrote, Sitting on the runway at SeaTac, preparing for departure. [10] According to reports, Patterson called 911 from the plane and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Here's the full story. 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 spun a plane around Friday evening without raising suspicion and climbed aboard with 76 empty seats behind him. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Authorities said Russell was suicidal. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. Never really knew it until now. Second, psychiatric diagnosis also suggests simple solutions to complex problems: If he did it because he was mentally ill, we need more widely available mental health services.. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. The mans bizarre and ultimately doomed flight pushed fighter planes into action. Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. 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 Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. Horizon Q4 prop hijacked by unauthorized person not a pilot. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. He sounds just like anyone else would if they suddenly found themselves in a similar situation. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. The plane crashed through several lines of 100-foot trees, the National Transportation Safety Board said, according to CNN. The cockpit recordings are widely available online and it would be hard not to feel compassion while listening to them. But he mentioned video games during his recorded conversation with air traffic control, which some have taken as a reference to flight simulator software. I don't want to. Latest update from tower indicates no interest on his part to land the plane. [19] Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden announced on the same day that the airline was coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration, the FBI, and the National Transportation Safety Board, and was "working to find out everything we possibly can about what happened". [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. Beck said the aerial maneuvers were "incredible" and that he "did not know how [Russell] achieved the experience that he did. As the voice recordings show, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who love him.. Richard Russell, AKA Rich or Beebo Russell, was named as the airport mechanic who stole a Horizon plane at Sea-Tac and crashed it. He grins in selfies at work. Mourners gathered in the comments section of his YouTube video. He had broken up with his girlfriend of 15 years and was having trouble finding steady work. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. #iflyalaska #akedchat.. They were born, they laughed, they struggled, they loved, and they died. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. TikTok Influencers Son Murdered at Gas Station. 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. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. More information as we learn more, Alaska Airlines wrote on Twitter around 9:20 p.m. on the west coast. 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. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Family Left Heartbroken After Airline Worker Steals and Crashes Plane. He appeared regretful about the pain he knew would inevitably visit his family. [40] He was a hard-hitting football fullback in high school, scoring six touchdowns in his senior year, after which he moved to North Dakota to join the football team at Valley City State University. Rainier. Lucas added, Theyve been in contact with the culprit. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. bit.ly/subAIRBOYD Various scanner recordings from liveatc.net and broadcastify.com SEA Ground, Tower, Departure/Approach. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. RIP Sky King, a user wrote. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. . Authorities said they did not believe he had a pilots license. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Facebook Richard Russell plane crash video was released. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. He gradually drifted into controlled airspace near Los Angeles International Airport, causing some alarm both to the authorities and to the pilots of at least two commercial jets. Theyre not as easy to fly as, say, a Cessna 150, Beck said. 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.. Commercial aircraft are complex machines, he 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. 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. On Facebook, he had liked the Republican Party and conservative personalities like Sean Hannity and Ben Shapiro. 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. Russell, the sole occupant during the flight, did not survive. He claimed to have buzzed Mount Rainier. Hijacker does not know how to land the plane. The Russell family released a statement Saturday evening, saying they were stunned and heartbroken over the incident and the loss of aman they called Beebo. [20] A veteran pilot said the maneuver "seemed pretty well executed, without either stalling or pulling the wings off. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan and other online communities. This is a Tribute Video to the late Richard Russell, better known as the Sky King. Seattle-Tacoma Intl. We believe there are no passengers on board. [20] They married in 2012. Britain is in the grip of a male suicide crisis. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. Other video shows him clocking in to work. [5] Seattle Tower tried several times to get the pilot of the aircraft to identify himself on frequency, but received no response.