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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
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
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?" 🤣
@@JH-qqqqqiim 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-qqqqqiim 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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
Your uncle and video games mentored him. The guy hid his mental issues well. You just never know when the mind will snap and unfortunately most times there is no snap back. This guy said he didn't realize he was mentually unstable until he was in the plane flying. An the barrel roll is just unbelievable. He proved it to be done. Definitely did it an knew his two choices for taking this plane.
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)
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.
Kinda reminds me of the guy that turned his cat into a tank and just drove around his town smashing the hell out of a bunch of dead beats stuff that had made his life a living hell. This was definitely different but the end was the same. Both just didn't care anymore. This would not happen if we didn't have such. Messed up country. See what 4 more years of O'bummer has gotten us ! And they think they will try another 4 with the same idiot 😮
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.
@@SkinE-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!!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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 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.
@@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 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.
@@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.
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.
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.
Quite the saga detailed in the description. I admire your fortitude in patiently navigating the bureaucratic maze necessary to bring us this footage. I hired on as a ground service agent for Horizon (the very same job held by Rich) about a year after this happened. This was something that was sort of pointedly not addressed in training or at work. Nobody wanted to talk about it, partly because there were people still working there who had been friends with Rich, so it was a delicate subject that we were quietly encouraged not to bring up. The one thing about it that my trainer said was "He was one of us, man. He was a ramper like anyone else out here. None of us would have guessed." That being said, I still can't really fathom the overall reaction to this whole event. So many people have idolized him, or made him into a martyr for social injustice or the machinery of life or something like that. I get that taking a plane and going for a joyride is definitely a grandiose way to go, but I don't know if it merits the kind of absolution I've seen pour out for him. But I also don't know if it DOESN'T. People have just made such a bigger thing out of 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@Zav wow! I didn't think it looked like the guy in the pictures you always see. Thought maybe they were outdated and he gained a bunch of weight. You're right. So why all the zooming on the big guy?
I love this discourse hehe :) I just hopped on to agree/note the same, but the green wants to be seen huh!!! It was weird to mistakenly start bracing myself and studying the total wrong guy for a second!
We (family) have not seen this footage until it was just sent to me now from my brother. The footage of the man in the green shirt going through security is not Beebo. The audio of course is, but that is not him shown in the security footage.
I am so sorry for your loss. Yes, a viewer brought that to my attention shortly after the video went live. (My apologies to the guy in the green shirt.) The same viewer identified Mr. Russell as the male at 3:33 wearing a “The sky’s no limit” t-shirt. Can you confirm?
Hi there. No worries and no need to apologize. Yes, at 3:33 that is 100% Beebo in ‘the sky’s no limit” t-shirt. I’m just surprised I haven’t seen this until now. Thank you
@@brittanyblake6319 Thank you for confirming. Yes, this footage, and I believe much of the audio, were not publicly available until I posted them. You may be aware that the FBI recently released a few hundred (heavily-redacted, but substantive) pages of records regarding Beebo and the Q400 incident. If you haven’t seen those records and you would like to, the pdf file is at rwp.yt/fbirr. (Link forwards directly to the pdf file, hosted at the FBI’s online FOIA reading room.) FYI, there is likely more to come from Port of Seattle. No concrete timeline on that, but I’d ballpark it at weeks to a month-ish, based on my experience.
I worked at that airport and got woken up by my phone blowing up with all my friends asking me what's going on. You can see my companies truck and my coworker going through the gate at 26:00 . I guess I can believe him now when he told me he saw it happen right infront of him.
Wow this guy pushes it back, unhooks it, runs towards the plane (while it's moving), pulls the stairs down, runs up, brings the stairs up, and proceeds with operating the aircraft. It's just surreal!
I just love Richard… and sorry that he had to go… we can never know why, but we can know he was a class act who cared about people even after he stopped caring about his own life.
Fantastic job Seattle ATC and all pilots who sat patiently and professionally but the one pilot who just couldn't wait to hear if Sky King had been captured really made me laugh. 30:21 When this happened I did run outside and looked for him, it was such a weird feeling. A reminder of just how secure our skies usually are and how much work goes into keeping it safe every day. It's fortunate no one else got hurt. Luck played a part that day for the rest of us.
Ya so free that he could have killed a lot of other people depending on where and crashed and also destroyed a 27million dollars plane smh. No remorse or respect for this action there are other ways to deal with your life falling apart imo. It prolly did feel absolutely amazing though.
@@nzkshatriya6298 I’m a pilot so I actually understand this more than you. You don’t understand what could of happened when taking off at that busy of an airport and also just because it’s insured doesn’t mean nobody loses anything. That is not a way to kill yourself. Do not speak on topics you don’t understand. This is a sad story that could have ended far worse than what the outcome was.
Why are you focusing on the guy in the green shirt towards the beginning, in the TSA screening room? That's not Rich, Rich is wearing a black "The Sky's No Limit" shirt.
Just fyi, the guy in the green shirt you keep focusing on the first 5 minutes is NOT Richard. Richard is the guy with the black t-shirt on that says “sky’s no limit” on the back.
Ironic that the admiration felt on here for this guy would have probably saved him, but he had to go through that for us to appreciate him. There has to be a better way for people in this state of mind to get the recognition and love felt when they are gone. This video, and its comments that follow, would be a good start
At about 25:00 the plane started rolling without anyone in the plane then he runs opens the door and climbs aboard to take off. What skill and determination. Sad 😞
I had read in an FBI manuscript that his family had recently ran an intervention on him due to his access drinking. I have been through this and the self pity and the pressures of not being enough even if you're literally working two jobs, monday- Saturday and drinking. You show up for every shift, don't call in, work overtime, work excess amounts to please your significant other, but it's still not enough then on top of it not being enough you find enjoyment and peace in drinking with your friends on weekends or even weeknights after work that eventually turns into you drinking by yourself at home because you're never home enough according to again your significant other, and eventually the pressure builds up to the point of explosive grounds. Some of us push the limits and some of us bite a bullet. At least he found an escape from it all and in that hour he was up there he was really flying. No one telling him how he's screwing up. They were treating him like his dream of being a pilot. This is truly an amazing story and I can relate so much. RIP SKY KING 🖤
RIP Beebo! I wish you would have been able to talk with someone about your challenges, so you could be around with all of us today. Probably could have been building time now as a FO for some outfit, and getting prepared for a spot as a certified, FAA licensed pilot…….
That dude just did a 32 million dollar ghost ride in full view of at least a dozen people and nobody was looking. It's fucking amazing. The rest of the story is sad as hell, but god damn is that funny. This channel is amazing, and I'm subbed for life.
Unbelievable story, strange how he was suicidal yet also functioning to the degree how he can steal an aircraft and have load of fun, completely strange and unbelievable. Most suicidal people just mope about them self’s and then jump off something or shoot them self after an impulse.
I was living near Tacoma when this happened. After flying around Mount Rainier he headed back west towards Ketron Island. I was outside in the yard and he went over my house literally at tree top height. At the time I had no idea what was going on, just thought it was strange to see a Q400 headed due west and so low. My house was under the SeaTac approach and all inbound planes always head north. I put the two things together after my wife saw a post on social media and we turned on the news. There’s video of him performing some impressive aerobatics over Puget Sound before crashing it. Very sad that he decided to confront his demons this way. But also very fortunate others weren’t killed too. The area he was flying around is dense residential neighborhoods. He was from my neighboring town and he left behind a young family. Very sad.
..um, isnt beebo the dude in the black shirt that says 'the sky's no limit' on the back??.. why does the footage from about 2-6mins in seem to focus on the dude in the green fort george shirt instead??.. :/
I feel there is a big and important difference between the terminology of " hijacked" and "stolen". With hijacked implying a plane full of innocent people while stolen is just guilty personal
Yea whoever this AT controller is, I hope he got a huge raise or at the very least some sort National recognition for him keeping his professional demeanor throughout this event. Many lives were in this guy's hands and he never wavered. Kudos to him...o7
Tex Johnston barrel rolled the Boeing 707 prototype during a performance flight over Lake Washington in August of 1955. Sure was a hell of a way to go out though. Gotta look at it like this- he might’ve been troubled, but at least he wasn’t evil.
