On a summer evening in 2018, a shocking aviation incident unfolded over Washington State, culminating in a tragic and intentional crash. The event centred on a young airport employee with no pilot training, whose final, poignant communications with air traffic control captivated and horrified the world.
The Unthinkable Theft
On August 10, 2018, Richard Russell, a 28-year-old ground service agent for Alaska Airlines, used his employee credentials to access a secure area of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Known affectionately as "Beebo" to friends and family, Russell's regular duties involved handling baggage, towing aircraft, and de-icing planes—not flying them.
That evening, he found an unlocked and unguarded Horizon Air Q400 turboprop aircraft, with its cockpit empty. In a meticulously executed move, Russell started the plane's engines, briefly disembarked to use a tug vehicle to position it towards the runway, and then took control of the aircraft for the last time.
A Chilling Dialogue in the Skies
For over an hour, Russell flew the plane south towards Mount Rainier, engaging in a surreal and often jovial conversation with air traffic controllers. When asked if he was comfortable, he replied, "Oh hell yeah, it's a blast man. I've played video games before so, uh, I know what I'm doing a little bit."
He even joked about potential future employment, asking, "Hey, you think if I land this successfully, Alaska would give me a job as a pilot?" The controller, attempting to build rapport, responded that they likely would. Despite repeated pleas from experts on the ground to land safely, even on water, Russell continued his solitary flight, expressing a desire to see the Olympic Mountains.
A Sombre Conclusion
As the flight progressed, Russell's tone shifted dramatically. He apologised to those he cared for, stating, "I'm just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Never really knew it until now." In his final transmissions, he described an intent to perform an aerial manoeuvre. Two F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept watched as Russell successfully executed a barrel roll.
Shortly after, he guided the plane down onto the lightly populated Ketron Island in the Puget Sound. Russell was the only casualty. The FBI later concluded the descent was intentional and ruled the incident a suicide, finding no link to terrorism or broader criminal activity.
In a subsequent statement, his heartbroken family remembered him as a "faithful husband, loving son and a good friend" who never meant to harm anyone else. The tragedy prompted Alaska Airlines to re-examine its security protocols, vowing to learn from the event to prevent anything similar from happening again.
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