Airline Worker Steals Plane From Seattle Airport; Chased Down By Fighter Jets Before Crashing

Aug 14, 2018 by apost team

It's an unbelievable story that folks are looking at and shaking their heads over. The incident took place at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on a recent Friday night. Airline employee, Richard "Beebo" Russell, allegedly stole a Horizon Air Q400 turboprop and took it for a solo ride, trying to carry out stunts in the air. Two fighter jets pursued the wild plane before it crashed, killing the 29-year-old married man.

Authorities have not released too many details, but sources say that Russell was depressed and on a suicide mission. He admitted to air traffic controllers that he was "just a broken guy" and a man with a "few screws loose." They tried to have him safely land the aircraft, but he refused and kept flying for about an hour.

Russell peppered air traffic control about what his plane could do like backflips or barrel rolls. He says he was getting tired and had a headache and would call it a night soon. The fuel was also running out, he claimed. He also mentioned that plenty of people are in his corner, and his actions would disappoint them.

Russell worked for Alaska Airlines as a ground services agent.

He was responsible for telling planes when they could take off and also for handling baggage and towing aircraft. Russell wasn't a licensed pilot, and it's unclear how he managed to attain the skills to do loops in the aircraft. Two F-15C jets were launched from Portland after the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A) asked for help from the Defense Department. The two jets worked to redirect Russell's rogue plane out to the Pacific Ocean when it crashed.

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Folks around the community watched the plane passing low over their houses and a huge plume of smoke arose after the stolen turboprop crashed.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee went to social media's Twitter to keep people informed of the bizarre and fatal incident, praising the F-15C fighter jets for being ready and capable in emergency situations. The suicide mission of Richard "Beebe" Russell remains under investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) is going to interview family and friends of the late airline worker to see if there was a further motive.

No one else was hurt or killed from the wreckless airplane stunt.

This video story is all the buzz; keep it moving along. What do you think of the rogue pilot stealing a plane and bringing danger to the nighttime skies? Leave a comment.