“There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile,” the controller says, referring to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In an audio recording Friday night, air traffic controllers can be heard trying to persuade Russell to land the airplane. federal investigators began looking into the theft and crash of the airliner. loved by everyone because he was kind and gentle to each person he met.” a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. “It may seem difficult for those watching at home to believe,” the statement said, but Russell was “a warm, compassionate man. Authorities say he was suicidal.Ī family friend read a statement from Russell’s family Saturday that said they were shocked and devastated. He is believed to have died when the plane crashed into Ketron Island, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, setting off a large forest fire. Authorities say he had worked Friday, and was in uniform, when he got into the cockpit of a Horizon Airlines Bombardier Q400 plane and took off. The 29-year-old worked for Horizon Air, helping to handle luggage and towing aircraft. Video showed fiery flames amidst trees on the island, which is sparsely populated and only accessible by ferry.Īlaska Airlines said no structures on the ground were damaged.The man who authorities say stole a commercial airliner in Washington state late Friday was identified as Richard Russell. Coast Guard sent a 45-foot (14-meter) vessel to the crash scene after witnesses reported seeing a large plume of smoke in the air, Petty Officer Ali Flockerzi said. Russell stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday night and crashed it into Ketron Island in Puget. It's going to disappoint them to hear that I did this.Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess."įlights out of Sea-Tac, the largest commercial airport in the Pacific Northwest, were temporarily grounded during the drama. A fter 29-year-old airline employee Richard B. also known as Bebo, took the Horizon Air Q400 Turboprop from a cargo area at the north. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Later the man said: "I've got a lot of people that care about me. Worker intentionally crashed plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport. official briefed on the matter told The Associated Press the man was Richard Russell. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there," the man responded, later adding "This is probably jail time for life, huh?" "There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile," the controller says, referring to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy."Īn air traffic controller called the man "Rich," and tried to convince the man to land the airplane. Those employees direct aircraft for takeoff and gate approach and de-ice planes. Authorities initially said the man was a mechanic but Alaska Airlines later said he was believed to be a ground service agent employed by Horizon. I have flown from Sea-Tac many times, and know the landmarks Russell. Video showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. a ground crewman with Horizon Air, stole a Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 airplane and. The man's condition after the crash wasn't immediately known. Preliminary information suggests the crash occurred because the 29-year-old man was "doing stunts in air or lack of flying skills," the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said.Įd Troyer, a spokesman for the sheriff's department, said on Twitter the man was suicidal and there was no connection to terrorism. A "suicidal" airline employee stole an empty Horizon Air turboprop plane, took off from Sea-Tac International Airport and was chased by military jets before crashing into a small island in the Puget Sound on Friday night, officials said. View Gallery: 'Suicidal' employee steals plane from SeaTac Airport
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