The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. It was worth it, he said, to conveniently travel to Alaska, where he grew up, to visit family. 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. They were born, they laughed, they struggled, they loved, and they died. Rich, you said you had 2100 pounds of fuel left? the controller responded. 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. They deemed Russell the Sky King inspiring an outpouring of memes in his memorial and a possible . Who Is The 'Sky King' Richard Russell And How Did He Earn His Title? I dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. Now a family is left to reckon with tragedy, while strangers find grim inspiration in his final act. Posted Sep 24, 2018. . 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. He attended Washington State Global University Campus from 2016-2017, seeking a bachelors degree in social science. They may not admit for a few days. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire on him, authorities said. This is not a terrorist incident. 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. We believe there are no passengers on board. You went out the way most of us dream, one user wrote. 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. Beck said the aerial maneuvers were "incredible" and that he "did not know how [Russell] achieved the experience that he did. HiIm a ground service agent. Pilots kept plane out of harms way and people on ground safe. Glenn Sullivan, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the Virginia Military Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice in Lexington, Virginia. 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. But there appears to be no manifesto, no digital trail of warning signs from Russell. [12] Flights in and out of SeaTac Airport were temporarily suspended. Maybe that will grease the gears a little bit with the higher-ups, he said at another point. "[21] When an air traffic controller requested he land the plane after this maneuver, he said "I don't know. A friend wrote on Facebook, So heart brokenhe was such a kind person to me. He and his wife had owned a bakery in Oregon but sold it to move closer to her family. Published U.S. Airlines Are Editing Their Websites to Remove Taiwan's Name at China's Request, What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows. And in recordings of conversations with air traffic controllers, Russell joked and laughed, though he was at times contemplative and raw. 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, the airport wrote. "[22], The two F-15s attempted to direct the aircraft toward the Pacific Ocean, and did not fire at it. Below are some of the clips. Others said it was wrong to glorify him for an act that could have killed more people. I hope they can make it through this. He said that airline employees go through background checks. [33], On November 9, the FBI stated that it had completed its investigation. 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. "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?" [18] After the incident, Joel Monteith, a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, relayed to an emergency dispatcher that in 2017, he saw Russell and another man "pointing and flipping switches" in the cockpit of a SkyWest aircraft parked at SeaTac Airport. 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. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. In July 2022, video was released that showed Russells last moments going through security, taking off in the plane, and communicating with air traffic control. 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.. They turned him into a hero with the name, and with it came a lot of memes. An airline employee conducted an unauthorized takeoff without passengers at Sea-Tac; aircraft has crashed in south Puget Sound. He then flew around the area for about an hour, speaking at times with air traffic controllers and apologizing to loved ones for what he was about to do. Stay tuned., Richard Russell, Rich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan . The libs are trying to solve the housing crisis in deep blue areas by having teachers live with their students. "Nah, I'm just a White guy": "Sky King" and White Male Suicide He hoped perhaps to commission in the military after graduation. No one else is thought to have been injured or killed, and the fighter jets did not fire . 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. RIP Rich. Never really knew it, until now, Richard Russell said at one point. Today marks the third anniversary of the poetic death of Richard Russell, dubbed "Sky King," the young man who took an airplane for a glorious final flight. Location of SeattleTacoma International Airport (north) and Ketron Island (south) within northwestern Washington state. 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. I was dead set against it. Their business contained a sign that read, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Others reported that the man had supposedly buzzed Mt. I met my husband when a friend sent him over to my house to cure my hiccoughs. We are working back ground on him now, the Pierce County Sheriff wrote. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. 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). The fire burned a 2-acre (0.8ha) area,[23] but was extinguished by the following morning. Although investigators received information regarding Russell's background, possible stressors, and personal life, no element provided a clear motivation for Russell's actions. The majority of the memes are in celebration and memorial of Russell, while others are more trollish shitposts. On social media, Richard Russell used the name Beebo Russell. (If you need help, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.). Men in the UK, aged 20 to 49, are more likely to die from . 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. The video starts with images of what its like to work as a baggage handler for an airline, sometimes in the rainy weather. Never really knew it, until now., While Lawnchair Larry was mostly a figure of fun in our popular culture, many people responded to Rich Russells flight with a level of compassion unfamiliar in our social media age. 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. The statement, he added, was the only one that will be released. He left no children. Videos of the plane being followed by two F-15 fighter jets started going viral online as the story broke. On behalf of the family, we are stunned and heartbroken. The incident spawned numerous image macros, photoshops and fan arts on 4chan and other online communities. It is impossible to encompass who he was in a press release. 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. Audio starts with another aircraft reporting the Q400 exiting the maintenance/cargo area and taking off without clearance. steal a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 airliner. It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe, but Beebo was a warm, compassionate man, the statement read. He tilted the wings and rumbled low over Puget Sound. The plane started moving, but Russell jumped in the plane and took off. 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. sky king, sky king memes, richard russell, 4chan, sky king 2, based. Nah, Im a white guy. That last line has caused some controversy online. Sky-King Rich 'Beebo' Russell FULL AUDIO w/ Air Traffic Control He did a barrel roll in a stolen plane and went out in a blaze of glory. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Another called it cathartic and liberating.. RIP to the SkyKing. The audio between the man known as Rich and air traffic controllers further captured his demeanor. Beebos intent was not to harm anyone, and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him, Mathews said. In one blog, he describedaspirations to land a management job or join the military. [12] His flight pattern was also shared online, with Twitter[13] user @RMaons writing, "SKY KING 2.0 ON FLIGHT RADAR, AIRCRAFT IS CALLED KING AIR LOOOL" (shown below, right). "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. We know who he is. Richard "Beebo" Russell: Sky King (throwback stolen - TigerDroppings What now? Who's Afraid of the Rorschach Inkblot Test? 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. 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. Family Left Heartbroken After Airline Worker Steals and Crashes Plane. [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. He sounds like a broken man who needed help. #seatac pic.twitter.com/OVtJqphgqo. Hearing a diagnosis would comfort them somehow. The plane crashed through several lines of 100-foot trees, the National Transportation Safety Board said, according to CNN. At another point, he says he's going to try to "do a barrel roll." After 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 Sound, questions remain about why and how he undertook the ultimately fatal flight. ATC said, "they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off", to which he replied, "Yeah right! I think I might mess something up there too. When I arrived, he was in the kitchen, in the middle of his Sunday morning ritual of cleaning his cleaning supplies. He was a faithful husband, a loving son, and a good friend, Mike Mathews read from the statement at a press conference. Powered by. 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.. About to take off. Who Is The 'Sky King' Richard Russell And How Did He Earn His Title? This dives into the psychology and reason of why he Hi-jacked a plane and . Just kind of soaring around, he told air traffic control. After he landed, Mr. Walters was arrested and charged with unlawful operation of an aircraft within a controlled air traffic area. [5] Seattle Tower tried several times to get the pilot of the aircraft to identify himself on frequency, but received no response. Wish me luck! Richard Russell, AKA Rich, the man who took the Sea-Tac plane and crashed it. 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. Patterson did not end up flying the plane into Walmart, instead landing it in a nearby field where he was arrested. Thanks for contacting us. Although he didnt have a pilots license, Russell knew how to work the plane from his experience as an airport employee, the FBI previously said. Third, and perhaps most importantly, psychiatric diagnoses provide listeners with psychological distance from the victim. "Heroes" - Peter Gabriel 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. 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 dont need that much help; Ive played some video games before, he told the controllers trying to help him. 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. 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. Russell, the sole occupant of the aircraft, perished in the crash. Lee Goldberg. She foiled their plans. He and his wife Hannah started a bakery in Oregon in their early 20s, according to a 2012 story in a local paperthat depicted a happy, determined couple. Confirmed info .. this is a single suicide male. Sky King ~ Richard Russell on Vimeo His conversation and tone is very casual. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Thats McChord field, the controller tells Richard Russell. It is not surprising that I thought of Larry Walters when I first heard about Richard Russell. Perhaps it was because the only life he seemed to have taken was his own. Rick Christenson, who was previously an operational supervisor with Horizon Air and who watched Russells flight over Puget Sound, described Russell to the Times as a quiet guy. It seemed like he was well-liked by the other workers, Christenson said. Audio captured emotional conversations between the man, named as Rich, and air traffic controllers trying to help him land safely.