Richard Russell Steals a Horizon Air Q400 (Exclusive New Footage)
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
- 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. The aircraft had been in maintenance status and was parked in an otherwise-vacant space for work on the plane's aft passenger door.
At approximately 7:15 p.m., Russell arrived in the footprint of the aircraft with Horizon Air tug #8, hooked up a push rod to the front of the aircraft and then pushed the vehicle 180-degrees toward the airfield. Russell left the tug running, detached the push rod, and then entered the plane at the forward passenger door via the stairs, which he subsequently retracted. Russell then taxied out toward the movement area, cutting off other aircraft, and departed runway 16L. Russell was the only person aboard the airplane.
Under the Air Transportation Security Act of 1974, the FAA created a category of sensitive but unclassified information, referred to as “Sensitive Security Information” (SSI), and issued regulations that prohibit the disclosure of any information that would be detrimental to transportation security.
Yes, any information.
Information properly marked as SSI is exempt from release under the Freedom of Information Act. After the 1988 bombing of a commercial airliner that crashed in Lockerbie, the FAA expanded the definition of SSI, and later expanded it again to limit access on a "need-to-know" basis.
While the SSI designation can protect sensitive information, it is also vulnerable to misuse. When the TSA designates information as SSI, its disclosure is immediately locked down. That need-to-know basis? It's determined by the TSA, and SSI disclosure restrictions remain in force forever - until and unless they are withdrawn by the same TSA.
In May 2014, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee issued a bipartisan report titled "Pseudo-Classification of Executive Branch Documents: Problems with the Transportation Security Administration’s Use of the SSI Designation."
The report identified some instances where the TSA had improperly designated information as SSI in order to avoid its public release, and many instances where the TSA had released information against the advice of the SSI Office and without sufficient documented justification.
Improvements were made after the report was published, but after Richard Russell's Q400 theft in August 2018, things slid backward-at least on the local level. The determination to withhold all surveillance videos associated with the Q400 theft was made on August 17, 2018, by Jeff Holmgren, Federal Security Director, State of Washington, when he sent the following email to Jerome Wilen, Port of Seattle's public disclosure manager:
"Good Day Jerome, I deem the CCTV video footage as Security Sensitive Information (SSI) and therefore shall not be released."
That was it. Conclusory magic words, and the records were closed off forever.
"But it's surveillance footage! Of course that's SSI, right?"
Nope, or I would be out of a job. And it's part of my job to have an okay understanding of how this all works. I receive improper SSI denials all the time.
The TSA publishes SSI Identification Guides to assist in doing what their titles suggest. SSIIDG 13-004 covers "Airport Security Cameras," and it could hardly be clearer: airport security videos capturing “Runways & Taxiways” are “Not SSI.” Actual quotes.
It doesn't say "unless someone stole a plane."
To share my personal opinion, a fundamental problem with the SSI designation is the absence of any mechanism through which the public can challenge or otherwise appeal an SSI determination. There is an internal mechanism through which TSA employees can challenge an SSI designation they believe is improper, but it is not available to the public.
You can file a lawsuit, which is something I have tried. It even worked. But it worked because lawsuits are annoying and expensive, and to the agency, it wasn't worth the fight. It didn't work because they had to release the records.
If you request records under a state or federal access law, and access is denied citing SSI, you're out of luck. It's as if the government thinks the only people who might be interested in transportation information are either (a) the government, or (b) malicious actors. No one else. Surely not you.
Though I probably should have said "'almost out of luck."
Because... here are the records.
So how did I get them?
DHS has a "Management Directive" that covers SSI in depth, and it contains a backdoor that I waited patiently to use: SSI that is three or more years old is subject to mandatory release upon request, unless certain specific determinations are made.
I didn't think those determinations could or would be made. Turned out, I was right.
Enjoy. And please don't steal planes.
00:00 The two-minute version
02:21 Real-time version, with ground, ramp, and tower audio - Zábava
CZcams has decided to demonetize videos of accidents that show "a strong moment of impact," regardless of context. I produce this channel because I believe that transportation safety is enhanced through transparent and accessible disclosures of the facts. If you find value in this channel's content, please consider supporting my work by clicking "Join" and becoming a channel member today.
There is no difference in perks between membership levels; join at a level that is comfortable for you. Rather than overcommitting, my promise to members is that I will continue to produce this channel's unparalleled content, just as I have for the better part of a decade. You don't have to do anything, and this channel is not going anywhere. I appreciate you all. You make this channel possible.
~~~
If you are in crisis, please don't steal planes or hurt yourself. Instead, try calling 800-273-TALK, or text HELLO to 741741.
If you're not in crisis, check out the video description to learn about the "Sensitive Security Information" designation, and how it kept this footage secret for years.
thank you for your effort in uncovering this wild footage. Appreciate it
Well said, too much glorification of this suicide, it was a hell of an achievement but still a tragedy damn it.
You are the BEST!!!! Was Jeremy inside popping his riser? I suppose that's still classified.
FYI, the green shirted man that you focus on is not the pilot. It's the man who was wearing the T-shirt that said "The sky's no limit".
The aircraft company Bombardier was very proud how well their high jacked aircraft performed.
The commercial passenger plane did stunts it was never designed to do.
Bombardier even hinted it was such a good plane that airlines should consider purchasing more of them...
Basically,,
the company used the incident as a sales advertisement to sell more planes....
That is a positive spin on a tragic situation if there ever was one....
irony found
The most polite hijack the world will ever see!
*suicide
More of a joyride with a sad ending.
@@Unkn0wn1133 Kinda relates to one of the last quotes from the 2006 documentary "The Bridge" about suicides from the Golden Gate bridge. Jumpers friend said 'I don't know what was going through his mind that day..... Perhaps he just wanted to fly."
To me, the word hijack connotates wresting away control of an aircraft which has an already established crew on board.
Jumping into an unoccupied aircraft and absconding with it, is simply a theft - as I see it.
A guy who hotwires a parked car and takes it, is not a carjacker.
@@DanEBoyd Right. Think FAA rules call any theft hijacking. ATC is following FAA procedures.
The saddest thing about this whole situation is how kind, smart, and talented this guy really was. If he could have gotten help and a chance he would have made a hell of a pilot. I really wish the country would work harder at providing real mental help to those in need.
It's near impossible to provide people with mental help if they don't seek it. The only way around that would be mandatory psych evals of every citizen bianually or even quarterly.
Which is something I don't agree with, I support healthcare autonomy, nobody should be forcing people to get any kind of medical procedure they don't want whether it be mental or physical.
He said he was beyond help
I agree with you, if only he would have received proper mental help.
On a separate topic, let’s say if he did, and later became a pilot, would you sit in his plane?
No he was a criminal, and a thug. He was clearly not smart at all to steal a plane and then crash it. I don’t feel any sympathy for this loser.
theyd never let him be a pilot after that
His takeoff actually looked pretty good, some of the loops he did were nuts. Came close to hitting the water. Legend status
No doubt they could use this for marketing purposes to show the robust integrity of the aircraft.
Not for normal people and pilots, he is not. He paid the price with his life, but easily could of taken many lives more if happened to crash into one of these airliners around him that day.
And he didn't.
Rip sky King
@@komrad1983 he took off between other aircraft. I think he was mindful and careful of that. You can't say that he was reckless because well, he got away with it without hurting anybody. He could tell with his conversation he wasn't out to do that.
As I have thought. Immaturity
What's crazy to think about is if someone parked in front of the plane before he could taxi and stopped him, all we would know about this guy is a rough mugshot and news stories of "a disgruntled man trying to steal an aircraft at an airport to hurt himself or others". The fact that he was able to actually succeed in taking off and write this story for himself makes all the difference in the world.
As a retired F18 RCAF pilot/instructor 25 years and commercial for another 5 I find the man's story incredible. What he achieved was miraculous, not advised in anyway, but truly brilliant.
@@TheUnforgiven69quick question for someone more than qualified. I think the first ATC person had no training in deescalating situations like this at all. To add to that who was that ATC talking to when he made a joke about hijacking his plane? 8:10 mark. I just want to know if he was/should've fired for doing that as it's a terrible display of unprofessional conduct. Thank you!
@@777jaris ATC was oblivious. But fired? That would depend. He was very busy and ATC is not an easy career.Situations like this are unheard of. The event really didn't require de-escalation. The man knew what he was doing and there's really no training I can imagine to aid one is dealing with such an incredible scenario. There isn't a lot of precedent for something ike this. Its insane.
How many situations in history has ATC had a chance to de-escalate? People deal with stressful situations differently. I would be more inclined to joke too. I've heard plenty of ATC cracking jokes so it's clearly something that is done occasionally.
A jet would just push the vehicle.
There's a reason so many millennial men idolized this guy. He was the embodiment of "I'm getting buried alive by the world but for once, I'm taking the reins. Even if it's the only and final time."
That's kinda what I'm thinking.. The world we have created for the average person in the US is fast approaching a dystopian nightmare. I could run the list but if you need me to read it to you then you are not the "average" American. Suffice it to say, for the average person life is fairly hard and fairly hopeless - much of it due to social pressures and complexity. What bothers me here tho is that people keep commenting about Rich "not getting mental help." My answer is this, maybe society needs mental help. Maybe we have a problem with our social environment. Maybe the problem was not with Richard but with "us", with society.
@@davidmickles5012 I understand your statement, but only to a certain extent. I think most of society knows that it is illegal, unethical, and very dangerous to hijack an airplane. I think ones who do not know that or just don’t care are the ones who need metal help. Such as the guy who pulled this stunt.
@@cryptiic1859 When a person no longer feels they have a chance in life, morals, ethics, and legality take a backseat. Dude went out on his own terms at least. I'm not justifying it by any means, but he got to fly a plane on his last day here and that's cool as hell.
It was probably the very first time in his life he felt alive. I envy him. I would gladly take that flight with him.
@@davidmickles5012 well freaking said
The part of the story that never added up to me was how he got a tug to push him back. The fact that he started the engines at the gate, got a tug, pushed the plane back himself, obviously detached the tug with no parking brakes enabled and then jumped in the plane as it started moving forward on its own is unbelievably amazing. I don't condone suicide. It's tragic and sad. But this guy went out on his own terms - and in grand fashion. Incredibly kind and considerate for others in the process, with no ill will and careful not to hurt anyone else. Like it was any other normal day.
P.S. the barrel roll was the chef's kiss. I hope his family and friends find peace, and I'm so sad for all those affected. RIP Capt. Rich. Legend.
Well said brother, well said.
I could be wrong, but, I feel like I had read in the past that he did move the airplanes to the maintenance facilities from time to time.
Rich was incredibly foolish though. At any point, despite his obvious intentions to harm no one but himself, he COULD have done for sheer lack of competence or adherence to ATC. He was VERY lucky not to have caused a catastrophe on the ramp or in the air.
But still, his story always tugged at my heart. Broken soul who soared out on his own terms, a dream fulfilled on his way out.
RIP Rich
25:00 you can seem him detach the tug, then gun it for the plane door while the plane is rolling with no one in it!
Would have loved to talk him out of it. But damn, what a way to go.
“You’re not gonna hijack the aircraft are you?”
“I am not 😆”
Absolute gold between professionals 😂
that was a craaaazy line to throw out there
Thought it was unprofessional try
Probably the stress talking in fairness
Sorry to the AT controller. I hope they're not traumatized. Never seen someone so calm and happy when they know they are about to die. Rip skyking the legend.
Without getting into specifics, it's pretty common when people who feel they've never been in control finally have control of their lives, however short-lived it ultimately may be.
Everyone that decides to check out will get very happy right before they carry it out. It is a major warning sign. This is why so many say "He was happier than he'd ever been and I thought things were going great." If more people knew the warning signs perhaps lives could be saved, but once that decision is made it is quite hard to convince them otherwise.
@@defeatignorance8681 bro the generalizations you’re making are totally absurd. what are you going to do? accuse everyone who’s having a good day of wanting to off themselves? lol gtfo with your pseudo intellectual babble and that pair of sloppy nuts on your chin 🙄
@@defeatignorance8681 It kind of makes sense. When you stop "needing to care" about what's holding you down because you've decided to end it, life suddenly becomes a lot easier.
@@defeatignorance8681 some cant be" saved " they have already made up their mind due social , economical , marital , medical or mental issues
I love the ground controller... his day just went to shcrap, workload radically increases, stays calm cool and collected enough to even joke with a pilot about "you're not gonna hijack that plane are you?" 🤣
I think he knew something wasn't right but probably convinced himself that, No that's not possible.
That wasn’t a pilot that was someone towing an aircraft. A ground employee just like the guy that stole the plane. That’s why he cracked that joke.
@@JH-in5oq as sad as this incident was, its honestly fascinating how anyone working around planes and understand basic flight controls and ramp movement can just up and go.
@@Cubitalipino it was reported he trained in video games, like Microsoft Flight Simulator. If that's true, it's mind blowing that he was able to absorb that info and use it to fly like that.
@@JH-in5oq Yea that was me, I had just finished offloading bags from our aircraft and hadn’t been informed of the hijacking yet hence my laughter (I had never been asked a question like that in my 16 year career). Shortly there after a coworker called to inform me of the situation and the dedicated frequency, I tuned the second radio to the frequency and monitored until the end.
The controller that handled all these grounded aircraft did an awesome job communicating and coordinating with aircraft! Phenomenal job to whoever you are that managed these aircraft during this air crisis!
The departure ATC deserves a huge raise. This became the Friday from hell. He is epic! Anyone who thinks controllers are overpaid needs to see this. I was at DFW tower ground ATC to watch for a day, its mind boggling.
I kinda of felt that he's as talented, competent, and as cool as Beebo. A remarkable pair of ordinary and extraordinary smart young guys.
Agree with you 100% percent
I was about to comment how this atc dude didn’t get flustered and still managed the ground pretty damn good. Way to maintain composure tbh
The most stressful, skillful job in the world, perhaps more than pilots. I have always so admired and respected of these people.
24:40 The "Think Security" sign on the fence while a random guy is rolling a stolen plane onto the runway is classic.
Lol right
Thinking it doesn't make it so 🙂
I’ll always have a soft spot for Rich “the sky king” Russell. Man just needed a little help. Hopefully he’s at peace now. He didn’t want to hurt anyone and sounds like he had a good heart.
No you have a soft spot for him because of what he did in order achieve his goal. Plenty of others go out quietly not hurting anyone. Not traumatizing an ATC, and not costing an airline millions.
No this guy has to hijack a plane and make his problems everyone else's in the process instead of going out with some dignity.
"Its better to live a day as a pilot, than a lifetime as a baggage handler."
haha! well damn, if i heard this and i was in his mind set i probably would have done the same thing he did
🥹
@@huntedbreed3602 Well, I'm not so sure hes wrong, my dude. Godspeed.
As Rupert Pupkin once opined,
“Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.”
Out of words, ok I guess
I used to work the ramp in Seattle with Russ. He was a cool dude. Never could have imagined. He did Used to ask me about my CZcams channel & how it was like becoming a pilot. But then again so did all my coworkers. Who would have guessed
I felt really sorry for his family. Also, this is not the audio from that flight. They've voiced it over and this should be pulled.
Thanks for the insight…👌🏻
I never worked with him but I was a GSA with Horizon in 2015. Crazy
My condolences to you captain.
@@DaveyCrockett001 So were they reading transcripts?
It’s amazing that he was able to pull the chocks and push by himself with anyone seeing it. And then he got on the plane with both engines running while it was rolling.
Yeah I wonder how that was done!
Depression is real. It is not always circumstantial. It comes and goes regardless of whether life is going well or not. I have fought it my whole life. Everyone that knows me sees me as a fun and loving person. I can tell that's who Richard was just by hearing him speak. Wish he was able to pull out of it. In a way it was an honorable salute to the rest of us out here battling depression. Only people like us can truly understand and relate.
R.I.P. Brother! The world is less with-out you!
Depression is the worst it happens to me constantly and it just comes outta nowhere and for no reason. It started in my late teens and has been consistent for the past 15 years. I get so depressed to the point I can feel it in my heart and it’s the most hopeless/bleak feeling I’ve ever had. I’ve tried so many meds and therapy sessions and nothing helps. Just comes and goes whenever it pleases and gets worse as time goes on, so I can totally understand why sky king did what he did. Glad he had enough life left in him to have some incredible experiences before he left this world. RIP
This had nothing to do with depression and everything to do with schizophrenia.
@@yaboyreege7158Forgive yourself and forgive others. When you feel it coming on jump into something you love. Work out. Fish. Bowl. Anything. It will help a lot.
Good job, What You Haven't Seen, for going through the bureaucratic nightmare to get this footage and release it to the world.
You do know they couldn't release footage of how this happened until the port had figured out how not to have this happen again. The port is controlled by the federal government.
@@butthurtz5025 except if you read the description to the video that's not at all what went down on this one
Read description
@@SierraTangoGuns Butt Hurtz was so butt hurt, they deleted their comment!
Except that tsa footage isn’t even him lol
The way he casually ghost rides the airplane and gets in after rolling it out himself. Absolute Legend. RIP
My man left the cockpit with engines running what a madman 😂
Geez these tower operators deal with a shit ton of traffic, some taxing in, some taxing out, some docking, some taking, some landing and then you throw someone in there want to do barrell barrel rolls in a passenger jet. I'm totally impressed with how well everyone works together to clear the run ways and get parked until they can deal with the situation.
Wow, a channel that sounds like it should be clickbait, but actually delivers. That’s a breath of fresh air. Well done.
Respectfully disagree. Why did we listen to do much garbled ground comm. this barely covered this case. There are much much better YT vids on this story! A whole lot of wasted unnecessary ground comm of parking planes forever.
@@susanjay7347 like what
@@susanjay7347 which I want to hear! Good work on this video
I was like, "Oh let me check out the comments to see if this video is BS." But then it had so much I've never seen before.
@@susanjay7347 people like you are what make vlogger/irritating extra narration so common 😑
Rest easy Skyking. Lived more in his last hour than most live in their entire lives.
Yawn edgelord
@@cat3584 Pipe down catboy.
Oh whatever. Normalize living while you're alive and not destroying 30 million dollar aircraft in a suicide.
@@wiredforstereo not justifying his actions, but who gives a damn about the aircraft and it’s cost, regardless of your stance.
@@wiredforstereo You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet. There is an epidemic of mental anguish, for lack of a better term, plaguing men. They are told to suck it up, their feelings don't matter because they're men, or that there isn't a problem in the first place then they're eyed with suspicion when we bring it up to someone. It stews into a mire of self doubt and loathing and no one is willing to help. Some guys wander off into the woods, some crash their cars into lamp posts, some take it out on the general public.
Russell, a broken man who couldn't get the help he needed, decided to take a joyride in a Dash 8, see Olympia National Park before sunset before running out of fuel and crashing into an uninhabited island. He hurt no one doing something a lot of men have, at some point, considered doing. His cry for help brought some attention to the mental health crisis that men face, and in the process elevated himself to a folk hero status along with people like Marvin Heemeyer.
Sometimes Reasonable men do unreasonable things.
It’s a shame this happened. Richard seems like a good guy asides from stealing the plane. Too bad he couldn’t get things worked out.
A Lot of men in the world are always told to "Take it like a 'man' " when they couldnt get things worked out.
Some are so unlucky to get an Amber Heard class of woman to drive them to the brink.
Yeah " a good guy". I would like to hear you saying that if one of your relatives were traveling in one of the many aircraft around him that day, happened that he EASILY could crash into one of.
@@komrad1983 dude just shut up. you're shitting up the entire comments section. we get it. you are pissed. you probably are some wannabe pilot, likely still a teenager. life is crazy. it's not simply black and white.
@@komrad1983 You sound exactly like ONE of those people who would definitely laugh at a man going through a rough time in life, and will simp instead to a woman needing help.
I bet you supported Amber Turd during the trials.
@@BuffaloPros you know what's more shameful? Are the men who believe women like Amber Heard.
I feel bad for him honestly. Yes, he stole a plane, and endangered others. I understand that. However if you have compassion, the poor dude lost his sanity to this pretty messed up world. He still was polite to others, and made sure to not mess up too many peoples day. Rest in piece Russel, sorry to hear you struggled in silence.
Check out the fbi report- hus family had done an intervention because of his increased drinking. Hence his remark about letting people down. Repressed anger and self pity was a huge driver here.
Name one of us who doesn't.
Corporate/businees opportunists stepping there leather soles on the meek. 'merica
He's the most innocent person to have flown .....there's some real monster pilots that have wxisted
I see bitter and selfish
Wow, incredible footage and audio.
All hail Sky King!!!!
You must have been watching a different video and listening to something else. That was nauseating waiting for something good to happen.
It was a beautiful flight. It was near dusk. The sky was crystal clear and still. The aircraft was beautiful. As Bushido states, "A good death is its own reward." There can be no better a death than the death of Captain Richard Russell. His life became intolerable. But for the last moments of his existence, he was the most free person in the cosmos. He was finally alive!
Rest in Peace Captain Richard Russell, many wish to be you.
@@Erik-Vadee-Veechee Something good did happen. Someone finally got to live their life. Someone was finally free. Someone ended their suffering. That is not only something good. It is something precious.
@@indridcold8433 He stared death in the eye without fear, he welcomed it. After a lifetime of bullshit he was "just a white guy" choosing death on his terms. For that short time he owned the sky! He was the Sky King!!
The fact that he stole an airplane and actually knew how to fly it successfully is honestly beyond impressive.
He learned with on line simulation of the aircraft type.
It isn't difficult to learn how to fly a plane. Its the cost of training that most people can't afford. $100k+
Flying is easy Landing is the tough part
The 9/ll "hijackers" went to flight school and were considered to be the worst performing students ever, even on a basic single engine plane. Yet were able to competently and precisely fly commercial jets into a relatively small target (compared to the whole airspace)
@@derek20la 9/11 was an inside job!
The fact that he learned how to fly from a simulator and pulled off those maneuvers is incredible . Rip big dog .
Rest in peace, Sky King. You lived more during that flight than most in their whole lives.
Sounded like such a cool/funny guy. What a way to go. I mean pretty respectful and didn't take anyone else's life. The "any idea if a Dash 8 can do a barrel roll" killed me HAHA. RIP.
There was also the expression of surprise from him that he was able to complete the barrel roll. They said he was 10 feet over the water inverted. I feel like we lost a very talented pilot, as well as a good man. Family thinks it was CTE from his football days.
@@elhurricane1706 awesome did run out of gas 🤔
Almost everyone can relate to this man. And the more time goes on and the more this world slips into the abyss the more your going to relate to this man.
I remember this like it was yesterday… it was all that was on the news that day. It’s sad that he couldn’t/didn’t get the help he needed before he went this far, but what a hell of a way to go out, he will definitely never be forgotten!
Man air traffic controllers need to know their stuff, imagine the stress talking all day long and 1 mistake may cost many lives.
It takes a special kind of person to be an air traffic controller. I used to have a friend named Ned who worked at O'Hare. Ned was cool as a cucumber. He was a coordinator at a place that I worked at. He seemed to thrive under stress. It was like a challenge to him I guess. He never smoked and he never drank.
Crazy part is him starting the aircraft, pushing himself back, unhooking the tug and hopping onboard as the plane rolls away. Holy hell
You said it, and they said he had no flight experience. He had something. get in one of those planes and just starting it up takes some know how. He gets in starts it and takes off like he done it everyday
You are thinking the same thing as I was. With all the security checks it takes to get access to the ramp you would think that they would have better security on the ramp. At the airport I used to work at they had people who watched everything and if you stepped out of line you heard about it and possibly got fined for it. This guy is right next to a security access point and no one takes notice. The first time I heard about this incident it sounded like he was far from everything but that's not the case.
@@kkenneth100 It's quite easy to learn how to start, take off, and fly a plane like that thanks to the simulators available online. It shows you everything you need to know to do it. The most difficult part that requires hands-on training is landing it. Even that can be learned to a degree with a simulator. Give it a try and you will have fun with what you can learn.
@@Jonathan.D yes sir. he just went out broad daylight in front of God and everybody like it was nothing. and to un hook it and run and jump aborad the thing like it wasnt gonna wait for him lol. It must have been a sleepy day at that airport . he flew out of there like a pro lol
@@Jonathan.D Ill have to look at it. Im just going by what I see. I love these start up video Im watching some of that stuff all the time and that was a pretty good size plane he got. I wouldnt think that would have been the easiest thing to get going.
He looked like a normal employee just going about his day. Be kind. We don't know the battles that others are fighting within.
This is very true and you should have more likes on the comment
My uncle knew and mentored this kid. He was pretty crushed to hear what happened. May you Rest In Peace Richard. Sounded like a real good guy.
Hmm 🤔 didn’t do a good job
@@24k.purelifedamn bro
Mad respect to the air traffic control guy
All hail the Sky King...and thanks for answering the question on how the heck he managed to push back and take off from one of the busiest airports in the US, and how it was handled for all other affected aircraft. Fascinating vid, and thanks.
I remember this very well. The kid took YT DIY videos to a new level. Thanks for sharing! Always wondered his demeanor leading up to the events
The roll and dive he performed in this type of aircraft looked like he had 5000 hours behind the stick. Beautifully executed. What a way to got out.
Um no....it was supposed to be a roll, those don't include dives.
@@MatyasArby Um you're so smart Matyas, thanks for letting us all know. Pretty cool maneuver whatever it's called.
@@237KMT If you like that sort of thing and want to see what a real legend of the sky is, look up some "Bob Hoover" videos here on YT, you will see something beyond what the majority of aviators are capable of. Enjoy. 🙂
@@MatyasArby eh try rob Holland
he didn't "go out" he was shot down
He'd decided ahead of time. I don't think many of us get that discouraged ..to be so committed to checking- out. (glad for the links in the video and details for just calling someone). First flight as pilot and he pulled that off! And he went in alone, not like bunch of suicidal airline pilots the past 15 years. I hope they do a movie about Richard Russell but I hope they'll do it right. And much respect to all the ATC and ground crew for coordinating that chaos!
Beautifully said.
Have hollywood desecrate this guys life and corpse?
No fucking thank.
@@maninatree1 Hollywood fucked up a lot of really decent men, even men with resources, like Johnny Depp, can easily be destroyed in the court of public opinion, with the words of a liar.
I agree with you however with hollywoke thing.
Going out on your own terms aside, the fact he was flying over residential areas, means this could have gone sideways very quickly. I highly doubt the comments would have taken quite the same tone had he crashed into those homes.
@@dellahicks7231 was he really flying over residential areas?
Society has two choices, start listening to men with needs
Or
Stop following advise of radical groups that justify the subjugation of men as a whole.
I remember when this happened. Always wondered how he was able to do this. Thanks for the footage. He was obviously determined to do this.
The real heroes are the ground controllers and how calm they were handling this situation. They were so professional
Yep, definitely not a typical day for them that’s for sure..
didn’t go up there to die, man’s flew up there to live. fly high forever rich
He went out on his own terms. And a last hurrah. I don’t condone his actions but I understand why. This world is cruel and rigged against most of us. Only he was harmed in the end. RIP
It's rigged against the biggest majority of ppl
The regime is anti-White. Richard knew this. He knew that as a White man, the world was out to destroy him. This was him pushing back and reclaiming his destiny.
F16s helped him "land"
Only he, the plane, the company that owned the plane, the insurance company that insured the plane, everybody working at the airport that day everybody flying out of the airport that day, his family, the military pilots that responded and I'm sure thats just a partial list.
@@mattb8754 lol the insurance companies hahahahahahaha
From start to finish just an amazing story. The balls and competence to start, push out then take off and fly that plane by himself with no real life previous practice. Not saying it was ANYWHERE close to right. Thankfully no one else got hurt hurt and/or killed. Every other person in/on this audio track is level headed, sincere and seems to be working as well as can expected considering the situation. If he could have landed that plane undamaged after barrel rolling it around I think it would have made for interesting times in the aftermath. Sky King,...Damn.
He got out and pushed himself back then got back in the plane?
@@Max-go2ze yup lol
@@Max-go2ze When he disconnected the tow bar you can see the plane start rolling gently forward and he pulls the tug forward then runs back to open the stairs and climb in.
I'm still blown away that he was able to do a barrel roll in a Dash 8. I thought those things were just a bit too slow and clumsy to be able to do something like that.
@@largol33t1 The Q400 is an incredibly powerful machine. Those PW150 engines are good for just slightly over 5000hp each. Some pilot friends I have state that a Q400 flies as powerfully on one engine as most other turboprops fly on two. Captain Russ pretty much 'borrowed' the Ferrari of the commuter aircraft world. Lol. Do i condone the method of acquiring his airplane, no, but a hell of a way to go that's for sure. 10000hp pushing him into the heavens. R.I.P Russel.
Life really sucks and for an hour or so this man lived life on his own terms in a pure sense. I'm not sad for him, he was ready. There's nothing wrong with being ready. All he hurt was a plane (who cares) and himself (he has the right to decide that). Guy is legendary!
What? There is so much more he could have experienced and done.
@@natatattful Thing is... that's not for you to decide. It was HIS life and he chose to end it. He has every right to do that.
@@Charlesinfinite Yes I guess. Doesn’t mean it was the right choice.
@@natatattful it's not for anyone to decide if it was the right choice except the person who's life it was.
@@Charlesinfinite that’s cool if you think that, I disagree
Got to admit, good way to go.
Didn't take anyone out with him, didn't force a cop to kill him and went out quick while having one last "joy" ride.
My goodness how everyone was so calm and professional unbelievable. I’m surprised that the “pilot” stayed as calm and on the radio as he was. That controller is absolutely the guy that I want anywhere I Fly or ride.
Definitely a sad situation but let's be honest with ourselves, you got to give it to the dude and give credit where credit is due. He definitely made sh*t happen.
For the first time in his life he was truly free
Most elaborate suicide.
what’s wrong with you??? Crime is CRIME, Now if someone took your car and totaled it, don’t think you’ll have the same opinion about it would??
@@jameswill4065 what's wrong with us? Do we not care about material items as much as we should? Me me me me me me...You'll never understand these comments.
@@jameswill4065 if someone stole my car and totaled it? I would have no problem whatsoever. This is why we have insurance.....
Horizon should learn from this and start a program that enables an opportunity for all their employees (from baggage to maintenance) to become licensed pilots and to further their careers. This dude barrel rolled a passenger airplane over the Puget Sound like a total boss. He should’ve had a chance to grow beyond his troubles.
bro anyone can do this with enough time on a sim.
Nearly anyone can fly a plane tho but not everyone can pass the theory exams
Any aircraft is capable of doing acrobatics if it has too and if a pilot knows how to. Horizon should NOT encourage this at all. The psychometrics required to become a pilot are really tough to met. If one trully wants to become a pilot they have the opportunity. This guy is the perfect example of why not everyone should just think they can fly an aircraft.
@@cathybaldry7822 Flying an Aircraft is extremely easy and many professionals would say it’s on par with driving a car.
Just say this guy did manage to land the plane .It would have to have been stripped apart to inspect for damage caused by violent manuevers which over stressed the wings.
Pilots: an ordinary person cannot flight a plane... Only pilots are trained and qualified to do so.
Russell: hold my beer ❤️
You're forgetting the other important part: THE LANDING
No autopilot needed
Land a plane. Only a pilot can land a plane
@@MatyasArby he chose to not land the usual way. 😔
@@jasonw8059 actually anyone can if they are able to think quickly and follow directions from atc and a supporting pilot.
I recently watched an incredible video in here of the wife of a pilot flying their private plane and successfully landing it after her husband collapsed and died at the controls. 💖
It's rare, but it is possible. 🙆🏻♀️
I've been following your channel for a long time, this is your most amazing post to date, thank you for cutting through the red tape and jumping through multiple flaming hoops to get us this.
Time heals all wounds. I wish I could have talked to him. RIP Sky King.
you'd probably bore him to CFIT'ing sooner
@@nzkshatriya6298 Nah, I'd listen.
@A. Melbs No kidding. Doesn't hurt though, does it?
@A. Melbs Depends on the person, the situation and any other number of factors. This poor young man was dealing with some inner struggles that he apparently had difficulty interpreting. Depression will make anyone think the world is better off without them; and it sounds like that's what happened. Just my opinion. How else does a guy who is surrounded by heaps of friends and family who love him suddenly decide to do this? Maybe brought on by football head-trauma too; which happens. Working minimum wage can be soul-sucking too; not because of the pay but because of how you're treated. It all comes down to a perfect storm sometimes. Just a shame; he sounds like a nice guy.
@A. Melbs Thank you :)
From all interviews , “sky king” as he’s known now by many was a well liked good human being that apparently had some mental health issues that weren’t known until he admitted before ending things. He mentioned trying to find somewhere to crash it where there were no people , where no large Forrest fire would be started picking a small island far from homes and people to impact , he had no intention of hurting anyone but had a moment where he snapped and stole an aircraft, the fact he was able to start it and get out maneuver it with the tow vehicle out to the pad and get in line, take off with no one knowing is unreal, he apologized to his family and wife saying she could do better and deserved better. Sad story and reality of mental health. Rest In Peace to him.
Dude put everyone in the air and on the ground in serious danger so he could have his Top Gun moment…
Think instead of just feeling..
@@Ironislander4302 He put no one in danger but himself, intentionally.
If you're going to go...this was a perfect way...for HIM.
He got to do everything he felt was fun, which was an amazing feat in itself, and a sunset flight to boot.
Rest in peace, Sir. ✈
i absolutely love this channel, great job getting this.
He even checked the control surface before taxiing. Pro!
If only some 'real' pilots remembered or cared to do that, they might still be here, and the others they took with them too.
Except he didn't release brakes before takeoff. Amateur! Still, I"m impressed. Sky King! Sky King! Sky King!
@@silasmarner7586 a
For REAL
The F16s helped him "land". In the original recording he said he was pulling hard G (force) circles & started throwing up. They asked him how he knew how to fly? He said "Xbox."
Lol I remember that
The recording from the voice recording black box should be released
I hate the fact no one is giving your YT channel credit for getting this footage and information.
Kudos to you for great reporting! I personally have subscribed because of your video description!
It's a small, very niche channel
Why anyone would watch it or give it any credit?
Can't believe you only have 169k subs on this channel. You did what the media couldn't. Well done
This is probably one of the greatest videos you've put together. Thank you for this.
Excellent job on retrieving this footage btw! Your knowledge, patience and persistence paid off. I appreciate your hard work 🤘.
Read your comments and explanation. Brilliant, just brilliant. Hats off to you. Nicely done.
Thank you for doing everything you did to get this video.
Great video worth a sub with the work put into this edit
I always wanted to watch a parked plane and listen to atc for 30 minutes.
😅
Much appreciated, I've been looking for these extra recordings since it happened
He wasn't "in crisis" he just had enough of being a cog in the soulless machine. RIP Sky King.
Yes an I am sure he wasn’t appreciated for anything. I understand those feelings.
All hail the mighty Sky King. Soaring like a hawk illuminated by the sky and the stars and the moon in the sky!
Its called capitalism... don't like it, then leave. Don't fucking hijack a plane and be a terrorist
Yeah I thought it was funny when it said "person in crisis.".....
This seems like a pretty busy airport, I'm amazed he was able to taxi to the runway and takeoff without causing any problems or at the very least drawing attention to himself before making it off the ground. Really wish he had made it down safely, seems like a decent guy who just made some dumb decisions that day. Although, him trying to land may have been more dangerous to others than just ending it out on that Island.
He chose to end it that way - it was his final hurrah. 😔
I work on the ramp. If you know what you’re doing it’s not difficult to steal a plane.
I’m not sad, man’s was a legend. Legends never die. 👑
F
I couldn't help but notice the sign on the electric gate that stated "THINK SECURITY" as I watched this whole thing unfold. Here he is starting the plane, moving the tug into position, backing the plane out, etc. and all the while everyone is so focused on their own jobs they don't even notice or question what is going on with the Q400. No one was "thinking security" by any means. Amazing.
Lmao I was thinking the same exact thing lol
Unless you're directly involved with that plane how would you as a random ground crew have any knowledge of whether any given plane is supposed to be doing a particular thing?
It's not like ground crew has knowledge of what every aircraft is supposed to be doing at all times.
Was in that airport that day ...and got home next afternoon after flights at SEATAC were canceled after a four hour ground stop. RIP buddy
Sad that he was going through that much that it caused him to end his own life.
That being said, the man is a legend and should be remembered in that way.
Truly wish buddy was still here with us.
Had he lived, he surely would not survive the immense turmoil that 2020 and 2021 brought to all of us.
I knew a person who un alived himself because he was treated like shit.
And the fact that a man like Johnny Depp had to live through abuse, and being presumed guilty in the eyes of the media, proves that a lot of men are victims, a lot of men tried to seek help but got chastized and the other men who suffer in utter silence, chose to silence themselves because our human society expects so so much out of men then leave them to suffer alone and in silence.
@@h.cedric8157 Yes, there are a lot of men and women suffering (in silence) from abuse. My mother and my brother are as evil as Johnny’s ex-wife. They made my dad’s life to hell. And since he passed away they are making my life to hell.
A legend? He put thousands of lives at risk that day, people on the ground and in the air. He could have crashed into houses, a school, shops, highways, other innocent airline passengers and crew, the OLYMPICS. This man was selfish and unhinged.
@@sarahh.9687 Yes, go hate men more.
You're sore that he "COULD HAVE" but forget he "did not" want to involve other innocents by choice.
@@sarahh.9687 I bet that if you came in contact with this man and talked to you about his problems, YOU would be that KAREN that will shut him up and say "TAKE IT LIKE A MAN"
Great, now the airlines know that the average citizen can fly, they'll have us piloting the planes, kind of like Walmart has us checking ourselves out. Thanks Jeremy, you blew it for the rest of us.
OH WELL SHIT HAPPENS RIP RICHIE YOU DID GOOD BY LEAVINGTHIS EARTH
😂😂 idk he didn’t survive so
Ok yeah sure. Just like Walmart. Stupid
Russel claimed he learned to fly from a video simulator.
Q400. "Q". of these planes only 17 we're made (or in service)
There's much more but I'm rusty.
I prefer self checkout
Don't have to talk to anyone
in and out with 5 items, no waiting.
You just lazy
For a brief period he was the freest man on earth! Fly high sky king
Now he's the deadest. All splattered on the ground.
An inspirational story for all of us.
"...and for a brief moment, Richard Russell became the greatest pilot anyone had ever seen" [paraphrasing The Right Stuff]
That's literally all anyone ever wanted. To just be free. And he was!he was a hero to the common man.
"Did you just take off"
"Yeah!"
"Are you not supposed to be on that aircraft"
"Uuuh, no :("
😂😂😂😂😂
This was a crazy day. I have flown that exact aircraft, not the same kind but THAT same one he took. Of course, Murphys law, it was one of our favorites as it didn't commonly have nagging little maintenance issues that would cause delays, inop systems etc. He could have at least picked one that was a headache all the time. Sorry for his family and friends, it was a sad set of circumstances. That being said, besides causing some delays he never physically hurt anyone, didn't try to take out a bunch of people with him or anything else that some people tend to do. He just wanted to go out on his own circumstances and flying a beautiful plane into the sunset was his choice. Certainly don't recommend it to anyone and would never do it myself but that being said, I've seen people pick much more violent, horrible ways to bring an end to their life.
Sheesh, that double sucks
At the very least a good man got the good plane
Really? Your main issue is that he has taken the wrong airplane?
Yeah, why? What's your issue?
I don't know for sure if you are who you say you are but if it's true you seem to have.a very lenient attitude to this guy I would have thought you would be right down on him for his air piracy of your equipment.I would have advocated the F 15 solution for him because at least the inevitable crash would have been controlled for time and place by USAF.
Don't know how to break it to you mate but I think the plane has some nagging issues now that may not make it fun to fly.
He didn’t go up there to die, he went up there to live. We can all learn from this man. RIP SKYKING
"Tower you need to scramble, NOW" Gave me chill bumps. Also, loved the into/outro music, groovy.
I'm sure you were the first to show this to everyone. It appears everyone followed suit and did whatever you did you get the footage. Great job and keep up great work.
Rest easy SkyKing. Went out like a god. Hope to meet you someday.
No he didn't. He committed suicide
He was just so chill the entire time and went out in style (NOT THAT I ENCOURAGE GOING OUT THIS WAY) but man, I wish they could have helped him land and get help.
The moment wheels rolled it was allllllll over, man.
He had no intention of landing, he achieved is objective.
They did all they could, but had no interest in being helped to land. It's just very fortunate that he didn't kill a few hundred people when he crash landed
@@ednafronkelbarger8601 You seem a bit uneducated.
A plane coming in somewhere there is not "a few hundred people" will not kill a few hundred people.
Quite clear that mass murder was not on this guys list.
"Get help" this guy unfortunately would receive very little help being in a federal prison for the rest of his life.
That GC did an excellent job getting those planes away from the lanes for an emergency. Great communication. It's sad no one knew or even payed attention to this employees issues, very sad situation
Men who have tried to seek help tend to have been laughed at chastized as weak and useless by-products of "reee patriarchy"
Man it boggles my mind how these ATC's keep everything straight
"Heroes get remembered, but legends never die". Fly high Sky King!
another i di ot /\/\/\
@@komrad1983 Go off yoslf! Your opinion is shit! Bet your kids hate you!
The HERO is the ground controller.
I will always remember this, just wish he had landed it somewhere in style.
That would have been impressive. I always found what he did as interesting. Before I start I am not advocating anyone taking their life, its always better to try and talk to someone. He went out on his terms, and no interest in hurting anyone. What he did was dangerous, but you can tell he didn't want to cause too much trouble or hurt anyone else. So I think what he did, was exactly what he wanted to do. He went out on his terms
@@austinlawler3739 every action he took endangered the lives of thousands of people below him and in the air around him. That was compounded by the distraction he posed to ATC and the stress placed on them while also trying to safely direct air traffic. At every point of “going out on his terms,” he threatened catastrophe for thousands of adults and children who would’ve gone out on somebody else’s terms in gruesome fashion. Not wanting to “mess with other peoples flights on the radio” demonstrates his level of mental impairment, not consideration for the safety of others. Every decision he made demonstrated an utter lack of regard for the well-being of others. He also destroyed a multi-million dollar aircraft that didn’t belong to him and forced dozens of emergency responders to focus on him for hours at the expense of the rest of the city. F*ck that guy. F*ck his terms. No one should face the risk of death simply because one person wants to “go out on their terms.”
I agree. That to me would have been the ultimate achievement, then say “I need help.”
But mental illness is anything but rational.
He took to the sky like a pro with that take-off and climb out!
Sad to see just what happens when mental illness goes un-noticed. Thankfully he still had compassion for others and went out of his way to prevent the far too often rampage that happens when others turn to massacres.😞
Why would you want him to spend the rest of his life in a prison, that's pretty fucked up.
@@loganmeline9233 he had a gripe against his company that’s why he did it..
First video seeing on this channel and you know what? I HAVENT SEEN THIS FOOTAGE! Subscribed*** liked*** 😎 nice job
This is fantastic work, by you. Good ish.
I was stationed on Fort Lewis when this took place, I normally would hang out on Solo Point by Puget Sound. I was in the barracks on North Fort that evening though, and recall hearing the fighter jets scrambled up from an Air Force base in Oregon. That caught my attention. How my command team never informed us of a possible threat to the installation, I never found out. I remember the sound of the explosion as he crashed into the south end of Ketron. The next day, and for several days thereafter, I’d drive out to Solo Point and cross the railroad tracks to watch the sun go down, and I’d see the barge onto which pieces of the plane were being loaded.
I recall hearing the Air Guard jets roaring out of the PDX airfield at full throttle, immediately turning north over Vancouver that warm summer night at around 7:30 pm., nearly rattling the pictures off of my walls. This is the scramble, you hear them referring to at about 26:00 minutes into this video.
@@DanPackard man that must’ve been intense
@@ThePursuitofHappiness1988 damn dude they never mentioned anything, even afterwards? Just curious, thanks
@@mytxmygun6300 no sir. I don’t know if the government simply scrambled the fighters and said “Good nuff”, or what. But either way, my unit at least, wasn’t aware of what went on until the news hit the airwaves.
Thanks ..
As a flight simmer I thought he should have said he's gonna land, and then done a touch and go just to prove he could do it..
Power move.
He could of landed if he wanted to. But he didn’t want to sally. Rest easy sweet kid :(
He may not have directly taken any body else's life but the psychological harm he did to all his work colleagues, that aircraft traffic controller and the other pilot's whom directly interacted with him and his family will forever be negatively impacted by his actions. Big hugs to those left behind. A special big hug to the air traffic controller.
he died, he is the victim, this is what you get for not offering real help to the mentally ill
Fascinating but sad story. Thank you for your work.
Well done for getting this - appreciate your efforts!
I remember when this happened. The first thing I heard was on a PNW-based social media group when people started asking "what's with the sonic booms?" from planes scrambled from Portland to intercept and who wasted no time getting to Seattle.
Pity they couldn't scramble fast enough for 9/11.
@@satos1 Lessons learned on 9/11 were applied in 2018.
I love the description for this video. As I’ve said elsewhere, I’ve learned a lot. Now let’s just hope I retain it!
Dude this aircraft controller rules. He just rolled with it and kept doing the job. Controllers are interesting people and I knew a couple a few years back and they were truly unusual folks.
This is seriously awesome stuff.
Rest easy, Sky King! ✈️
I still wonder what he was going through in his personal life that made him do this. When I first heard him talking to ATC when the video went viral years ago, it was one of the saddest things. RIP man.
He had a rough life.
Still breaks my heart to this day
He was in a dead end situation (yes, of COURSE he could have gotten himself out of that!)... or felt he was, and wanted to go out in glory, which I think he did. Sky King! Sky King! Sky King!
When you want to be a pilot but you get priced out of training and the government starts handing free training to people of color and turning away anyone white that is male, then you're pretty much shit out of luck. This guy dreamed of being a pilot since he was a child, and that got stolen because our government is racist towards white people in both promotions and training programs. All my managers were either Mexican, African or Asian American. Overall white people hired was around 3 percent. The only reason I got hired is because I'm disabled and they know I can play the discrimination card on their ass. This shit has gone ignored by the media and we will see more incidents occurring as this war on whites continues in this country.
I'm sure there's an Ex in the story somewhere
Bless his heart, the poor man. He was just a broken guy. RIP.