Why did I do it? 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 . Richard Russell, 29, hijacked a 76-seater plane from Seattle-Tacoma on Friday. Rest in peace Rich. Sep 09, 2022 at 02:47PM EDT My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. Ah, minimum wage. Patch confirmed there was a security incident underway at SeaTac. Someone plucked a bag off a conveyor belt. Heres hoping that the next Rich crashes on a couch of a good listener. KINGs Madison Wade reports. He appeared regretful about the pain he knew would inevitably visit his family. As part of his job, Patterson was responsible for fuelling the aircraft. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed. [4] The New York Times Richard Russell Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Questions, [5] The Washington Post Richard Russell Details emerge of a compassionate man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash, [6] CBS News Richard Russell pilot of stolen Horizon Air plane had lighthearted tone before deadly crash, [10] CNN Pilot arrested after threatening to crash plane into Mississippi Walmart and eventually landing in a field, police say, [14] 4chan Pilot threatening to crash hijacked plane into Walmart in Tupelo, Mississippi, 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. 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 . 0:00. 1,012 words / 5:32 To listen in a player, click here. He spun a plane around Friday evening without raising suspicion and climbed aboard with 76 empty seats behind him. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. He was always smiling.. 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. Below are some of the clips. More information as we learn more. The libs are trying to solve the housing crisis in deep blue areas by having teachers live with their students. He also had a pellet gun, with which he eventually shot several of the balloons, beginning his slow descent. How I've Made $280k Selling Spreadsheets on Etsy. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible . Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. After five hours, he arrived in a tow vehicle near the plane. [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. 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. [37], Horizon Air CEO Gary Beck stated that, as far as the company knew, Russell did not have a pilot's license. Keep the aircraft nice and low, the tower responded to the man at one point, advising him to keep it over the water. That means I lift a lot of bags so many bags, he says. This story has been shared 176,044 times. 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. He also posted audio clips of interviews he conducted to SoundCloud for what appears to have been a multimedia college class. in correct chronological orderthis took pIace over about 75 minutes. "[43] Some co-workers said that Russell had probably trained himself to fly using amateur flight simulation software. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? . Happy to read and share the best inspirational Sky King Richard Russell quotes, sayings and quotations on Wise Famous Quotes. Goodbye" (shown below, left). On Instagram, Hannah Russell posted recent photos with Rich. He went sightseeing along the Olympic mountain range. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups. Glenn Sullivan, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the Virginia Military Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lexington, Virginia. 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. So I dont know how he achieved the experience that he did.. This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and . 2:18. Tower tracking flight and in contact. Seattle ground Horizon guy. I met my husband when a friend sent him over to my house to cure my hiccoughs. 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. | #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo. 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. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Polices ,ambulances ,& fire trucks are everywhere. Richard Russell Steals a Horizon Air Q400 (Exclusive New Footage), On August 10, 2018, a Horizon ground operations employee by the name of Richard Bryan Russell Jr., stole a $32,000,000 Horizon Q400 airplane, N449QX, from the Cargo 1 / Line 1 area at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Lee Goldberg. "[42] During his conversation with air traffic control, Russell said he "[knew] what [he was] doing a little bit" because he had experience playing video games. [29] An operational supervisor for Horizon Air described Russell as "a quiet guy" who was "well liked by the other workers". Although investigators received information regarding Russell's background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russell's actions. The fighter jets were scrambled from Portland. 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. He then boards an empty 70-seater plane and took off. "[17] He asked ATC if he could get a job as a pilot with Alaska Airlines if he successfully landed the aircraft. At one point, he says to the utterly professional air traffic controller, Im sorry about this. Phillip Hamilton. This is not a terrorist incident. [20], Videos and radio transmissions of the event were followed online, immediately sparking a meme dubbing Russell the "Sky King". Never actually wanted to hurt anyone. Family friend Mike Matthews read a statement from Russells family that said the incident was a complete shock to them. 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 [] Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. He doesnt sound confident in his ability to land back at SeaTac. A pair of F-15C jets were scrambled in response to Russells flight before he crashed one hour and 15 minutes after takeoff. 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." The episode has also suggested that Russell was more complicated than the easygoing persona of his known online footprint. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement read. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . He would take my shifts if I needed. The flight data recorder may show how well Russell managed the aircrafts myriad functions. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. 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. 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. 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. Magazines, Digital Would love your thoughts, please comment. At one point, Rich reported that he threw up all over the cockpit, according to the audio. 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 . What have I done? I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . "[38], Russell was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska, at the age of seven. 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. [45] The aircraft was worth $30million, all of which was paid under the company's insurance policy "with no deductibles. Audio from the SeaTac tower reported that aircraft were lined up on the tarmac at one point. Below are some of the clips. Its going to disappoint them to hear I did this, he hauntingly said before his death. In the audio clips, Russell calls himself "broken" and says he knows how to fly a little bit thanks to video games. 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.. People contended that he didnt want to die "he just wanted to feel alive for once in his life.. We decided to sell and move in 2015, because we were both so far removed from our families. "Got a few screws loose, I guess. 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 . The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. I have flown from Sea-Tac many times, and know the landmarks Russell mentions well (Mt. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. Once I earn my Bachelors in Social Sciences I will either seek a management position where Im at now, or possibly join the military as an officer. Powered by. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire on him, authorities said. HiIm a ground service agent. 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. I wouldn't want to do that. Russell, a ground services worker for Horizon Air, was permitted to get very close to passenger aircraft. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire . I think I might mess something up there, too. Russell, who worked for Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, flew the plane for 73 minutes before crashing it into remote Ketron Island, which has fewer than 20 residents. A week after Richard Russell stole a Horizon plane from Sea-Tac Airport and crashed it on Ketron Island, there are few hints about why he did it or how he was able to fly the aircraft. Powered by. Male is confirmed a suicidal male. It was a lie. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. But there appears to be no manifesto, no digital trail of warning signs from Russell. 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. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. 160. r/lostgeneration. This story has been shared 110,450 times. I dont want to hurt no one. To be honest with you, commercial aircraft are complex machines. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. According to Eckrote, the plane is highly fragmented and she said that a background investigation is underway to further clarify Richs motive. I got a lot of people that care about me. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Public acts of violence such as mass shootings often reflect the perpetrators troubled, dark past. Acted alone he is 29 year old Pierce county residence. He sounds just like anyone else would if they suddenly found themselves in a similar situation. "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?" 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.. Theres something wrong with all of us. 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. I love my parents and sister this isn't your fault. The incident came to a tragic end when Russell intentionally crashed the plane into Ketron Island in Puget Sound, killing him. He and his wife had owned a bakery in Oregon but sold it to move closer to her family. 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. They are grounding all planes and waiting. [34][35] The FBI stated, "Interviews with work colleagues, friends, and familyand review of text messages exchanged with Russell during the incidentdid not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology. On October 6, 1993, now aged 44, he hiked into the Angeles National Forest and died by self-inflicted gunshot. 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. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. "[21] When an air traffic controller requested he land the plane after this maneuver, he said "I don't know. (shown below). Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Since his famous flight, he had spent a lot of time hiking, reading the Bible, and volunteering with the Forest Service. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. (Video: Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post). I'm listening through the archive of the radio chatter on the #seatac hijacking. 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. Because I am a clinical psychologist, people come up to me after a news event like this and ask my opinion. 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. 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. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. Two F-15 fighter planes were scrambled to follow Rich, who eventually crashed into a wooded area a little over an hour after takeoff, killing only himself. by Disclaimer: I am in no way proficient in the arts.. 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. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. sky king, sky king memes, richard russell, 4chan, sky king 2, based. [6], The aircraft was stolen from Plane Cargo 1 at the north end of SeaTac Airport[6] and maneuvered to runway 16C via taxiways. Many people online compared the incident to 2018's incident with Richard Russell, calling Patterson "Sky King 2.0" or "Sky King 2. [20] A veteran pilot said the maneuver "seemed pretty well executed, without either stalling or pulling the wings off. He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. About 1 hour and 15 minutes after takeoff, Russell died by intentionally crashing the aircraft on lightly populated Ketron Island in Puget Sound. Authorities described him as suicidal.. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. "[16] When ATC suggested that the plane be landed at Joint Base LewisMcChord, the occupant refused: "Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there. 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. Luke Adams ? Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. [15] Near the end of the flight, the aircraft was seen performing a barrel roll over Puget Sound, recovering a mere ten feet (three meters) over the water. 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. Who's Afraid of the Rorschach Inkblot Test? On July 2, 1982, a . ATC said, "they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off", to which he replied, "Yeah right! Never really knew it until now. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. pic.twitter.com/ziBAYv7cgn, Jimmy Thomson (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018. . Many saw Russell as a man suffering from depression and sympathized with him. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Preliminary info is that a mechanic from unknown airlines stole plane. Our first date, he kind of cornered me into it, Hannah Russell said to the site. Yeah I dont know what the burnageis like on a takeoff but yeah. 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.. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. 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. We've received your submission. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. In the article, Russell described himself as laid back and easy going. He was manic-depressive. My names Richard Russell, Im 27 and currently living in Sumner, WA with my incredible wife Hannah. 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. He was on meth.. Will many of us have a better story to tell when we get to wherever were going, one Reddit user saidin a thread. 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. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. Stay tuned., Another indicated, Seatac airspace closed. She posted a series of selfies showing the couple on various adventures. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. [9], On August 11th, 2018, journalist Jimmy Tomson tweeted out a series of audio clips in which Russell can be heard talking to an air traffic controller (shown below).[3]. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was owner/operator of Hannah Maries Bakery from 2012 through 2015 in North Bend, Oregon. 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. 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 Russell, the sole occupant during the flight, did not survive. #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. Never knew he was fighting a battle non of us knew about. I think I might mess something up there too. Hello, Love. 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.. He preciously worked as a ground service agent at Horizon from 2015 to present. 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. No others involved., @KING5Seattle heres a video of the hijacked plane and fighter escort from Steilacoom in the ferry line for anderson Island pic.twitter.com/8fgAUe05xv. 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. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. For Richard Russell. In 2018, a Horizon Air employee, Richard Russell, stole a plane with no prior flying experience, making international headlines. The majority of the memes are in celebration and memorial of Russell, while others are more trollish shitposts. "[34], Richard Russell was a Horizon Air ground service agent from Sumner, Washington. Posted Sep 24, 2018. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Then he took an Alaska Airlines plane. Hey all! 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.. Would love your thoughts, please comment. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible copycat this September. 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. Russell took the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop from the northeast corner of the airport, according to the Times. Full video form John Waldron on Facebook being shown on CNN #seatac pic.twitter.com/R98bl5uQBr. Listening to the audio recordings, I feel nothing but sadness for Rich, for the man who stole that plane at #SeaTac and committed suicide. 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. [37] From early childhood he was known as "Beebo" to his friends and family. 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. Theyre not as easy to fly as, say, a Cessna 150, Beck said. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. 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. He did a barrel roll in a stolen plane and went out in a blaze of glory. 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. 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. #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. They were born, they laughed, they struggled, they loved, and they died. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. 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. Mona Lazar. ", "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.
Brittney Griner Quotes,
President Nelson Vaccine Statement,
Articles S