On August 10, 2018, an unprecedented event unfolded when an airport employee lacking flight experience commandeered a plane, ultimately crashing it on a secluded island. Prior to his demise, he conveyed a final message to ground staff grappling with the harrowing ordeal.
Richard Russell, known for his warmth and empathy, served as a ground service agent for Alaska Airlines, where his responsibilities encompassed aircraft towing, pushing, de-icing, and baggage handling. The trajectory of his life altered dramatically one day when Russell, affectionately nicknamed “Beebo,” gained access to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s tug and remote cargo area using his work credentials. It was there that he encountered the Horizon Air Q400 aircraft, unattended and unlocked, with an empty cockpit.
Embarking on the aircraft to initiate the engines, the 28-year-old momentarily disembarked to readjust the tug and position the plane towards the runway. Subsequently reboarding the craft, Russell set the propellers in motion before ascending into the skies, marking the final instance his feet would touch the ground.
Over a span of more than an hour, Russell navigated over Tacoma, veering southward towards the towering Mount Rainier, a 14,500-foot volcano overlooking the Puget Sound. Amidst his airborne journey, Russell engaged in amiable banter with air traffic controllers, sharing jokes and even expressing remorse for his actions. When questioned about his comfort in piloting the aircraft, Russell enthusiastically affirmed his capability, drawing parallels to his experience with video games.
As the dialogue unfolded with air traffic control urging Russell to activate autopilot and consider a water landing, Russell persisted on his solitary venture, expressing a desire to witness the Olympic Mountains situated northwest of the city. Despite warnings about the potential dangers of nearing the mountains, Russell’s tone shifted towards introspection, acknowledging his personal struggles and issuing apologies to his loved ones.
Approaching the denouement, Russell contemplated executing a barrel roll, a maneuver he successfully accomplished as two F-15 fighter jets observed in astonishment. Following his final communication, Russell guided the plane over the Puget Sound, ultimately guiding it to a crash landing on the sparsely inhabited Ketron Island. Tragically, he was the sole casualty. Subsequent FBI investigations determined the intentional nature of the descent, discounting connections to broader criminal activities or terrorist motives, citing a lack of discernible motivation. Russell’s demise was classified as a suicide, with his body discovered amidst the wreckage.
In a statement released posthumously, Russell’s family portrayed him as a devoted husband, filial son, and steadfast friend, emphasizing his lack of intent to harm anyone. Following the somber revelation, Alaska Airlines pledged to glean insights from the tragedy to avert similar occurrences in the future.