A man named Richard “Rich” Russell struggling with personal issues and suicidal thoughts stole and crashed an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport (Seattle-Tacoma Airport).
Russell, a 29-year-old employee who lived in Pierce County, eventually, crashed the plane and died. The Horizon Airlines plane was not carrying any other passengers when it was illegally taken by the suicidal employee who worked as an airport mechanic.
The pilot hijacked the 76-seater Horizon Air turboprop Q400 late Friday night, according to Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor.
During the 20 minute flight, Russell made some odd moves and statements. The man had the aircraft performing barrel rolls and loop-the-loops even though he was being escorted by two military planes. The military F-15 fighter jets were guiding the broken individual away from highly-populated areas.
Full video form John Waldron on Facebook being shown on CNN #seatac pic.twitter.com/R98bl5uQBr
— Cameron Thomsen (@CameronThomsen) August 11, 2018
After joking and sharing his sadness with controllers, the plane crashed in Ketron Island. Audio released to the media has Russell saying the following to controllers: “I think I might mess something up there too. I wouldn’t want to do that. Oh, they probably have got anti-aircraft.”
Authorities told him: “They don’t have any of that stuff, we are just trying to find you a place to land safely.”
He responded by: “Yeah, not quite ready to bring it down just yet, but holy smokes I need to stop looking at the fuel ‘cos it’s going down quick.”
He answered with: “This is probably jail time for life, huh? I would hope it is for a guy like me.”
Russell, who used to be married to a woman named Hannah, also joked about stealing the plane to see the Olympic Mountains and apologized to those he was leaving behind.
He concluded by: “I’ve got a lot of people who care about me. I’m going to disappoint them to hear that I did this. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. I’m just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Never really knew it, until now.”
He's flying out over the Olympic mountains when his radio starts to become harder to hear. Thanks @BrianJAlford for this one. pic.twitter.com/Ao7wneMFme
— Jimmy Thomson 2020 (@jwsthomson) August 11, 2018
Pastor issued a statement which confirmed the scary incident was “not terrorist related.”
For those in need, the Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255.
As horrible as this is, I have to say this: an aircraft mech pulled off a barrell roll in a twin engine turbo prop commuter plane. Speaking as someone in the industry, THAT is impressive. RIP, Rich…you lived the dream. #SeaTac
— Mike Keleher (@Hexfoliation) August 11, 2018
Listening to the Rich / ATC #seatac audio is conflicting. He’s funny. He’s goofy. He sounds very likable. He’s doing something crazy. Dangerous. Horribly dangerous.
And you know how it ends.
And you feel for the guy.
And you root for the guy.
But you know how it ends.— Sassy DeGrumpypants (@TheOldening) August 11, 2018
