Mona Lazar. There wasnt anything particularly wrong with them. These statements should probably be considered the emotional projections of similarly disaffected people. Russells social media accounts have become funeral guestbooks, digitized for the world. Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. As part of his job, Patterson was responsible for fuelling the aircraft. Ah, Rich, dont say stuff like that, the controller said. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. Mourners gathered in the comments section of his YouTube video. On LinkedIn, he wrote that he was owner/operator of Hannah Maries Bakery from 2012 through 2015 in North Bend, Oregon. 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. Hannah and Beebo met at a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year, the site reported. As the voice recording shows, Beebos intent was not to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him.. Or that he appeared to be a happy, regular guy. Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. We are devastated by these events and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. The new footage appears to show Russell wearing a shirt that reads "The Sky's No Limit . An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. 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. Human remains were recovered from the site, the FBI said Sunday, and Russell is presumed dead in the crash. On Facebook, Rich, using the name Beebo Russell, wrote that he lived in Sumner, Washington, was from Wasilla, Alaska, and was married to Hannah Russell, who worked as an assistant pastry chef and waitress, according to her social media account. Richard Russell 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. I think Im gonna try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good, Im just gonna nose down and call it a night., Hannah Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. The chilling footage of his final moments next shows Russell jumping onto the plane and presumably getting into the cockpit. Im going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. 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. Will many of us have a better story to tell when we get to wherever were going, one Reddit user saidin a thread. Beebo was loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met. He and his wife had owned a bakery in Oregon but sold it to move closer to her family. The media also started sharing audio clips of ongoing conversations between Russell and an air traffic controller. Before takeoff, the pilot explains someone stole an airplane, and is flying around near Mt. [36] He had been part of a tow team, which repositions aircraft on the airport apron, for about four years. Ah, minimum wage. 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.. On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from SeattleTacoma International Airport (SeaTac) in Seattle, Washington. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement read. Another called it cathartic and liberating.. [20], Videos and radio transmissions of the event were followed online, immediately sparking a meme dubbing Russell the "Sky King". Here's the full story. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. He was manic-depressive. His conversation and tone is very casual. The footage shows him going through security wearing a T-shirt that says "the sky's no limit." 2007-2023 Literally Media Ltd. But there appears to be no manifesto, no digital trail of warning signs from Russell. 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. A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. All Rights Reserved. #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. Mr. Russell was clearly overwhelmed with the world in which he found himself, a world vandalized, a world stripped of his ancestral . Russell, who was a ground service employee for Horizon Air and did not have a pilots license, took the twin-engine turboprop plane from a maintenance area where it was parked at the airport. in correct chronological orderthis took pIace over about 75 minutes. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington, Russell wrote about himself and his wife online. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. 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. SKY KING 2: RETURN OF THE SKY KING https://t.co/2Uk1sA2oXQ. Or he could have had grim plans to take his own life. [29] An operational supervisor for Horizon Air described Russell as "a quiet guy" who was "well liked by the other workers". In a final video that he posted to YouTube, Rich Russell showed an active life full of travel and adventure. The Pierce County Sheriff wrote on Twitter, Stolen horizon airplane crashed into Ketron island. [39] He attended Wasilla High School, where he wrestled and competed in track and field. I met Hannah in Coos Bay, Oregon in 2010 while we were both going to school, the about me section says. Its burned quite a bit faster than I expected., He also said, Im gonna land it, in a safe kind of manner. He was very, very friendly automatically willing to bring everyone in, Hannah Holmes, who also participates in Young Life, told The Seattle Times. 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. This is a complete shock to us. Hearing Mr. Russell speak during his final hour is an emotional experience. 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. 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. [20], Russell's family released a statement on August 11, stating they were "stunned and heartbroken" and "devastated by the events". 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." [37] From early childhood he was known as "Beebo" to his friends and family. 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.. 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. ", "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. In a video he posted for a college class in December, Russell joked about the sometimes mundane duties of his job. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac . But he mentioned video games during his recorded conversation with air traffic control, which some have taken as a reference to flight simulator software. Before he took off, several people at the airport questioned what was going on. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process, 6 Signs That Youre Depressed and Ignoring It. Ive got a lot of people that care about me. He also posted audio clips of interviews he conducted to SoundCloud for what appears to have been a multimedia college class. 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 . The fire burned a 2-acre (0.8ha) area,[23] but was extinguished by the following morning. He was always smiling.. 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. The Port of Seattle released the video. 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.. First, it would provide a simple explanation that makes the incomprehensible seem comprehensible. [7], SeattleTacoma air traffic control (ATC) maintained radio contact with the occupant. 1:10. After five hours, he arrived in a tow vehicle near the plane. Russell was well-liked by his co-workers, according to The Seattle Times. Many people online compared the incident to 2018's incident with Richard Russell, calling Patterson "Sky King 2.0" or "Sky King 2. RIP to the SkyKing. ? wrote one woman on Twitter, echoing the comments of many people who heard the audio. [46][47], N449QX, the aircraft involved in the incident, pictured 2 months before the crash. Confirmed info .. this is a single suicide male. August 12, 2018 1:05 PM EDT. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Psychology and the Mystery of the "Poisoned" Schoolgirls. 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. Nine-tenths of them are from a lower socioeconomic class. He would have flipped overhead switches and set the propellers of the Bombardier Q400 spinning before he roared away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The couple settled in Sumner, Wa., where Russell got a job at Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, so he could easily fly back to Alaska to see his own family. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed, the airport wrote. People contended that he didnt want to die "he just wanted to feel alive for once in his life.. I lift a lot of bags. Memes about Sky King spread across the internet after the incident. [27], The Pierce County Sheriff's Office both thanked the public for its accurate information, and acknowledged on August 11 that federal agencies would be leading the investigation, primarily the Seattle office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). But after that apology, oblivion seemed like the only option left to him. 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. And part of his job was to drive the tractor that backed the aircraft into position for takeoff. Sea-Tac airport confirmed the plane was down a short time later. Happy birthday to the man who keeps me laughing and always improves the view ? she wrote with one in 2017. 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. However, late in the evening of August 10, 2018, tower audio indicated that some planes were being released. Russell flew wild loops over Puget Sound, screamed low over frightened onlookers and had existential and, at turns, bizarre chats with air traffic controllers as two Air Force F-15 jets gave chase. Richard Russell had a website that appeared to have been for a college communications class. Tower, you need to call and scramble now, one pilot warned, according to the video. Richard Russell Plane Crash Video From Seattle, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Public acts of violence such as mass shootings often reflect the perpetrators troubled, dark past. The plane was grounded for the night after returning from Victoria, B.C., which was its final scheduled flight of the day. Magazines, stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Or create a free account to access more articles, 'Beebo Was Loved By Everyone.' I was born in Key West, Florida, and moved to Wasilla, Alaska when I was 7. He doesnt sound confident in his ability to land back at SeaTac. In this season of life we enjoy exploring as much as possible, whether its a day (or so) trip to one of Alaska Airlines destinations, or visiting a new area of Washington. They are grounding all planes and waiting. Beck said the aerial maneuvers were "incredible" and that he "did not know how [Russell] achieved the experience that he did. 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? They may not admit for a few days. (shown below). He had psychotic depression. 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. "[21] When an air traffic controller requested he land the plane after this maneuver, he said "I don't know. After performing the stunt, along with other maneuvers, the plane crashed on Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. The statement, he added, was the only one that will be released. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle . 7 things to know", "One year after stolen Horizon plane crash, scars remain on Ketron Island", "FBI releases classified documents from 2018 Horizon Air plane theft, crash", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_Horizon_Air_Q400_incident&oldid=1136228770, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 10:06. 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. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely. Oh- theyve probably got anti-aircraftnot quite ready to bring it down just yet. To be honest with you, commercial aircraft are complex machines. Weird times. More information as we learn more. In one blog, he describedaspirations to land a management job or join the military. Known as Beebo to family and friends, Russell was in his youth a gregarious, outgoing star athlete at Wasilla High School in Alaska, according to The Anchorage Daily News, running track and wrestling. Nah, I'm a white guy. I wouldnt want to do that. pic.twitter.com/Ra4LcIhwfU. Terrorism was ruled out, and Russell was found to have acted alone. She foiled their plans. 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. My logo draft will be a generic suit case with minimalistic travel stickers, encircled by the text: Russell Hustle. Phone scammers tried to rob a grandma in Canada. [37] During his communication with air traffic control, Russell made a complaint about wages, stating: "Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. Human remains were recovered from the site, the FBI said Sunday, and Russell is presumed dead in the crash. He left no children. Authorities said Russell was suicidal. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. 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. After listening many times to the recordings, I found his voice - alternately warm, scared, and funny - to . RIP Rich. [Im] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. 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. Normal operations at Sea-Tac Airport have resumed. Just kind of soaring around, he told air traffic control. He flew around as an air traffic controller calmly tried to reason with him. 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. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Cast Your Vote To Select The Meme Of The Month! The cockpit recordings are widely available online and it would be hard not to feel compassion while listening to them. At another point, Richard Russell said, Im down to 2100; I started at like 30-something.. This article was published more than4 years ago. People like me dont do things like that. 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. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. The fighter jets were scrambled from Portland. On September 3rd, CNN reported that an airport worker named Cory Wayne Patterson had stolen a twin-engine plane from Tupelo Aviation and was threatening to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart. 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. 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.. We had a ground stop for quite a while here, a dispatcher says. I dont want to hurt no one. 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. 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 [] This story has been shared 110,450 times. I have flown from Sea-Tac many times, and know the landmarks Russell mentions well (Mt. Commercial aircraft are complex machines, he said. [5] Seattle Tower tried several times to get the pilot of the aircraft to identify himself on frequency, but received no response. At one point in the dramatic audio, Richard Russell told the tower he was losing an engine. 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. [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". Airport (@flySEA) August 11, 2018. As Melville noted, We are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending., Be wary of simple explanations of any human behavior, and of simple solutions for complex problems. Even the small sections, most of it doesnt resemble a plane.. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. We are aware of an incident involving an unauthorized take-off of a Horizon Air Q400. What now? [20] A veteran pilot said the maneuver "seemed pretty well executed, without either stalling or pulling the wings off. 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. I usually have to work outsidebut it allows me to do some pretty cool things too.. Pilot said it was most bizarre thing hed heard in his career. "Heroes" - Peter Gabriel 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. "[16][19] He added that he "wasn't really planning on landing it. Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. To the consternation of friends gathered to witness the launch, he quickly ascended out of sight and climbed to an altitude of 16,000 feet. On that day, Twitter[11] user @CityKing_Gank_ posted a clip of Patterson flying the plane over his town, garnering over 17,000 likes and 4,000 retweets in six days (shown below). Since his famous flight, he had spent a lot of time hiking, reading the Bible, and volunteering with the Forest Service. The video was widely circulated online and by major news publications (shown below). The general feeling was, "It is a wonder that more of us don't crack from the tedium and meaninglessness of our consumer culture." A 2012 article in the World described how Russell met his wife. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. 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. Authorities said they did not believe he had a pilots license. Tulepo Police Chief John Quaka told CNN that Patterson had "some flight instruction" but was still in training. [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. Third, and perhaps most importantly, psychiatric diagnoses provide listeners with psychological distance from the victim. Full video form John Waldron on Facebook being shown on CNN #seatac pic.twitter.com/R98bl5uQBr. Some dude stole a plane from #Seatac (Allegedly), did a loop-the-loop, ALMOST crashed into #ChambersBay, then crossed in front of our party, chased by fighter jets and subsequently crashed. He tilted the wings and rumbled low over Puget Sound. Wish me luck! The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . Russells family released a statement to the news media expressing great shock and remembering Russell for his compassion. Videos posted to social media showed the other side of his skills.