Amc Gremlin For Sale Craigslist, How To Deal With An Enmeshed Family, Uptogether Open Enrollment Application, Articles R

What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. 7 months ago. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . New video shows the crash site and blogging made by Richard Russell, the airline worker who stole and crashed a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. The agency said that, had Mr Russell wanted, he could have recovered from the dive. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. Neither the men nor the plane has ever been seen again. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the cockpit on August 10, 2018. Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Investigators work to determine how a man was able to pilot a stolen plane. "In this plane, he certainly knew how to retract the landing gear, he coordinated both engines, powered them up to get a coordinated takeoff," she said. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. Its not yet known exactly what pre-existing psychological conditions Russell may have had, but in the course of his conversation with air traffic controllers he expresses racial resentment. Not long before the crash, a pilot who'd been helping controllers advise Russell appears to mention the maneuver. When Rolling Stone published its article last year, no major regulatory or security changes had been implemented in response to Russells deadly flight. July 4, 1986. 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 Sound, questions remain. The plane was a Bombardier Q400, a turboprop that seats 76 people, owned by Horizon Air, part of Alaska Airlines. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Ted Cruz calls for Fauci to be prosecuted in CPAC rant on Covid, George Santos under investigation by House Ethics committee, CDC sends warning after babys death linked to contaminated breast pump, Footage shows man stealing plane he crashed into a Washington island, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. After proceeding through the pre-flight checklist and moving the pushback tractor, Mr Russell began rolling the plane toward a runway. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. August 22, 1979. The Associated Press contributed to this report. They said it's not clear whether he had ever taken flight lessons or used flight simulators, or where he gained the skills to take off. After the plane approached Ketron Island, Waldron saw a thick column of smoke followed by a loud explosion, he said. SEATAC, Wash. - It was a shocking scene above the Puget Sound, as Horizon Airlines employee Richard Russell stole and flew a turboprop from Sea-Tac Airport while air traffic tried to talk him . I've played some video games before," Russell responds. Richard Russell, 29, walks through employee security screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Minimum wage, we'll chalk it up to that. At one point he asks the controller, Hey, do you think if I land this successfully, Alaska [Horizon Airs parent company, Alaska Airllines] will give me a job as a pilot? Told, You know, I think they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off, Russell replies, Yeah right! The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but the F-15s did not bring the plane down, Eckrote said. Padilla and an a recently hired assistant boarded the plane, taxied it to the runway, took off, and head out over the Atlantic Ocean. He did not survive the crash. Russell was "tow certified" and had full security access, and had been with the company for three and a half years, CBS News' Jamie Yuccas reports. Never really knew it until now.". He was right in saying that there are so many people who have loved him.". Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. Moore stole (or stole and crashed) multiple airplanes, multiple boats, dozens of cars, etc. FBI released more information about Russell and the incident earlier this year, including witness statements from family, friends, and co-workers. At one point, he apologizes and says he is a "broken guy" with "a few screws loose. "Nah, I mean, I don't need that much help. "Congratulations. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. So many bags," he said. "Everyone was literally frozen in place, muttering about what possibly happened," he said. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. New surveillance. He later stole the plane and eventually crashed it into an island in Puget Sound. Find flight for cheapWith its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. "I lift a lot of bags. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. Richard "Beebo" Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane from Sea-Tac Airport on Friday night, performed midair acrobatics over Puget Sound and then crashed into an island, was an. He eventually climbs inside the cockpit and fires up the engine. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Richard Russell, was a Horizon Air ground service agent with no piloting experience. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. The job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. Russell's family said in a statement that they were stunned and heartbroken. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." 2023 Cable News Network. Please enter valid email address to continue. Because there were no passengers or crew aboard the plane, it wasnt considered a hijacking, and authorities response to the event seems to indicate that nobody ever expected an airport employee to hop in a plane and go for a ride with no apparent intent to terrorize, kill, or even make a greater statement. ", "Well," a controller responds, "we're not going to worry or think about that. The Seattle FBI office said Sunday that it had recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon plane. If you miss out on Thursday, no worries! Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "Seattle Ground, Horizon Guy. A blog that appeared to belong to Russell as part of a multimedia content creation class at Washington State University focused on his job on a ground service agent. He had no purpose to be at that plane Friday evening "other than what he did do," Tilden said. "Last night's event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline," Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, told a news conference Saturday. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Ben Charles Padilla, an aircraft mechanic who held a private pilots license and was a certified flight engineer, was repairing a 727 airliner in Luanda, Angola for a Florida-based company named Aerospace Sales and Leasing. That includes both domestic and international flights. Aug. 12, 2018. After Russell performed an unauthorized takeoff, two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Im coming home! But it was not to be. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! Russell responds: "Awwww-right. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "You think if I land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?" Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island More Videos Next up in 5 The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed the remains belong to Richard Russell, who took the empty Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac Airport. Now, nearly four years after the event, authorities have released new video footage showing how 28-year-old Russell who went by the nickname Beebo got through the airport and into the 76-seat plane that he flew to his death. With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. I don't know! The sky thief Richard Russell captivated the audience's attention after the Authorities at the Port of Seattle released an airport surveillance video of plane stealing. He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". I don't need that much help. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. Others include how, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attack, someone can simply take a passenger plane from a major U.S. airport without authorization. Playing What We Want In Seattle! Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the cockpit on August 10, 2018. Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. KIRO 7 spoke with Russells friend and former co-worker Robert Reeves who said Russell was a hard worker who loved aviation, but he admits Russell was unhappy with his pay. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. On board was 29-year-old Richard Russell, a baggage handler for Horizon Air who is also flying the plane for unknown reason. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was killed when. Russell took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 7.32pm on Friday and flew, tailed by F-15 Eagle jets, until the plane crashed at 8.47pm into Ketron Island, located 25 miles. among other things. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". "I never thought I would work as a Ground Service Agent (GSA) for an Airlines company," he wrote in a blog post in September 2017. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. "There is a protocol to not allow anyone singularly to get onboard an aircraft," Soucie said. Weve got the Weekend Ticket Takeover! "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. Russell, 29 is presumed dead. Having to rely on the ferry system for transport, the first 40 responding firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Russell went by "Beebo" on social media. What followed was a 73-minute joyride during which Richard Beebo Russell had a surprisingly candid conversation with air-traffic controllers as he pushed the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-engine plane through some daring acrobatic moves. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. The fuselage was fragmented and appeared to be upside down, said Debra Eckrote, regional chief for the National Transportation Safety Board. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. Russell, who was a ground services employee for Horizon Air, sat in the plane's cockpit for nearly an hour and a half before the unauthorized takeoff. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy." Please enter valid email address to continue. Authorities said he used a tractor to rotate the plane 180 degrees, positioning it so that he could taxi toward a runway. They said it's clear Russell didn't intend to harm anyone, and "he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. We may earn a commission from links on this page. U.S. Air Force Sergeant Paul Meyer, a 23-year-old crew chief stationed at Mildenhall Air Base in England, stole a C-130 cargo plane and took off. Video from a witness on the ground shows the plane at one point pulling up for a loop, putting the aircraft upside-down and then pulling back up just feet above a body of water. In audio recordings released over the internet, Russell can be heard chatting in an upbeat, enthusiastic tone with the air traffic controllers trying to talk him down. He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". It did not elaborate. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. "Here we have an employee who was vetted to the level to have access to the aircraft and had a skill set proficient enough to take off with that plane.". Within minutes of the plane's takeoff, the military scrambled two armed F-15 jets from Oregon to follow it, according to local and airline authorities and two sources with knowledge of the situation. Russell, a Horizon Air ground service agent for three and a half years, was the only person aboard the plane, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. Nah, Im a white guy.. Mr Russell was at times jovial at one point he assured SeaTac's tower that he didn't need help controlling the airplane because he had played some video games and questioned if it could do a backflip and was at others melancholic. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. So many bags," he said. He said he wanted to create projects showing the contrast between his hard work on the ground and his high-flying free time traveling the globe. 2023 Cox Media Group. / CBS/AP. It was one of the strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018: A baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport moseyed onto the tarmac, hopped in an unoccupied Horizon Air passenger plane, taxied to an empty runway, and took off. "A couple of the turns, it looked like what we call in basic flight training a 'coordinated turn,' meaning that he not only used the yoke but you also coordinate with the rudders and you do the turns. A Russian Air Force engineer made off with an Antonov An-26 transport plane from Kubinka Air Force Base near Moscow. Horizon's parent company, Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on claims of workers being overworked or underpaid. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM I don't know, man! He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, In audio recordings released over the internet, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! But the friendly tone of a 29-year-old airport worker who stole a commercial plane Friday night, performing acrobatic stunts before a fatal plunge into a thick island forest, belied his desperate actions. A beautifully-written Rolling Stone article published in summer of 2021 tells the story of Russells life up to the moment he towed the plane onto the runway and hopped in the cockpit, attempting to find meaning or motive to help explain why this goofy, God-fearing baggage handler decided to steal a plane he likely knew he couldnt successfully land. Relatives of Richard Russell say they are "stunned and heartbroken" after the airline worker stole a passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was killed when he crashed 25 miles away. "Our hearts are with the families of the individual aboard as well as all of our Alaska Air and Horizon Air employees," said Constance von Muehlen, the airline's chief operating officer. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Each Thursday Ticket Takeover we giveaway prizes all day for different concerts, events, and more! . The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. Maybe that will grease some gears with the higher up, Russell said to air traffic controllers. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and maintenance area for the night after arriving from Victoria, British Columbia, earlier in the day. The Q400 is a turboprop aircraft with 76 seats. It was a strange day when Horizon Airlines Employee Richard "Beebo" Russell stole a plane in the middle of his working shift. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. Potential targets included tens of thousands of fans assembling at Safeco Field, about 12 miles away, for a sold-out Pearl Jam concert just as he took off. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a 'compassionate' man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash By Alex Horton August 13, 2018 at 8:01 a.m. EDT A Horizon Air employee described as. NORAD scrambled two F-15 to try to shepherd Russell away from populated areas of Seattle, but at 8:46 PM, Russell crashed the plane into an uninhabited part of Ketron Island in Puget Sound. Newly-obtained surveillance video from 2018 shows how Richard Russell, then a Horizon Ground service agent with no pilot experience, successfully stole the plane before crashing to his. How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane? The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Sunday that Russell had died in the fiery wreckage, but whether the crash was deliberate or accidental was one of several topics remaining for investigators. That includes both domestic and international flights. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. He is the author of The Plane That Wasn't There: Why We Haven't Found MH370. "He worked his shift yesterday, we believe he was in uniform, his job is to be around airplanes," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Four years ago, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell managed to steal an Alaskan Airlines turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. You did that. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. All Rights Reserved. Plus we let you know whats going on locally with Lee Callahans Jacktivities! Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. In a final video project set to cheery music, Russell included selfies from airport . The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. His family says it's clear he didn't mean to harm anyone. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. Marine Corps lance corporal Howard A. Foote, Jr. stole an A-4M Skyhawk ground attack jet from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and took it on a 45-minute aerobatic joyride before returning to base and landing safely. Please dont hesitate to utilize this resource. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. In the days leading up to the theft and subsequent crash, employees and family didn't notice anything wrong with him, investigators wrote in the updated report. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. Win Tickets to KISS at Climate Pledge Arena on November 6, 2023. 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? Investigators said Richard Russell worked alone when he was working as a ground service agent for the airline, and that he towed the turboprop out a hanger, climbed into the cockpit, and took off. The reason I left is in February of 2016 they were short staffed and they had me run three planes in the same time, Reeves said. Reeves said he left Horizon because workers are overworked and underpaid. The sheriff's department described Russell as suicidal. He was immediately killed. He was immediately killed. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his travels. The incident is bizarre and tragic, but it is not unprecedented. Some speculated the plane was stolen as part of an insurance scam, or perhaps taken by terrorists who planned to use it as a flying bomb, but the truth remains unknown. ", "I've got a lot of people that care about me, and it's going to disappoint them to hear that I did this," Russell says. The newly published video, coupled with Rolling Stones detailed reconstruction of the events of August 10, 2018, paint the picture of a cheerful, gregarious fellow. The jets' capability was appropriate to the potential task, one of the sources said, without offering details. You know?". Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. "Tower, you need to call and scramble now," one Alaska Air pilot called out. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. Discovery Company. May 23, 1969. No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. On the other hand, Russell was reported to have been profoundly troubled, whereas Malaysian authorities were unable to find any evidence that Shah suffered from mental illness or was undergoing any kind of stress in his life. It was empty, parked at a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport cargo and . The Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the . ", Russell posted collages of photos from his trips around the world, writing that travel was "what keeps me going in the most unfavorable circumstances.". The Port of Seattle just released the CCTV footage of 29-year-old Richard Russell towing the Alaska Airlines' Q400 Turboprop into position back in 2018 at the Seattle-Tacoma International. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . The Associated Press contributed to this report. ", Referring to audio recordings of Russell talking to air traffic control during his hour-long flight, the statement said his "intent was not to harm anyone. (DAILY NEWS VIDEO) . . "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. 2. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, Sudden FAA Failure Grounds U.S. A curious and ultimately tragic story from 2018 finally has a little more context, thanks to security camera footage. While investigators concluded Russell intentionally crash the plane, his motive still remains a mystery. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Siddiq Saunderson Moved to L.A. and Immediately Bought a Prius, Millennials and Zillennials Can't Get Enough of Manual Transmissions, Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus (Lifetime Subscription), Tesla Investor Day 2023 Was Pretty Great if You Ignored Elon. Scroll down to continue . During an exchange with air traffic controllers, Russell mentioned he had some experience using flight simulator software. KINGs Madison Wade reports. Subscribe to NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC Watch more NBC video: http://bit.ly/MoreNBCNewsNBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. In a humorous YouTube video he posted last year, he talked about his job and included videos and photos of his various travels. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He also told the controller he "wasn't really planning on landing" the aircraft, and he described himself as "just a broken guy.". It wasn't immediately clear what training, if any, Russell had in flying planes. Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the cockpit on August 10, 2018. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. and last updated 2018-08-12 08:56:01-04. Even with this new footage at hand, its hard to figure out what made Russell embark on this brazen, fatal adventure. Officials don't believe Russell had a pilot's license, and they don't know how he knew to fly the plane. It evens out in the end.". The FBI has recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon aircraft that crashed onto Ketron Island Friday night. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. New video shows crash site of stolen plane 02:22 CNN Richard Russell was a funny, gentle and hardworking man, said family and a colleague of the airline employee who stole a passenger. Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! They say says this is a complete shock.