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Richard Russell, ‘Rich’: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (Stole plane at SeaTac)
Heavy.com ^ | August 11, 2018 | Jessica McBride

Posted on 08/11/2018 12:41:20 PM PDT by CedarDave

Richard Russell, who dreamed of being in the military and once ran a bakery with his wife, was identified as the suicidal airport mechanic who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight, where it was chased by fighter planes as he attempted “stunts” in the air before the plane crashed.

The man known as “Rich” in air traffic control audio and dubbed the “skyking” on Twitter broke hearts on social media as people followed the unauthorized flight because it came to a fatal end. The incident led to a dramatic and tragic night on August 10, 2018, as aircraft were grounded at Sea-Tac while fighter jets followed the man and air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to help him land the aircraft.

On social media, Richard Russell used the name “Beebo Russell.” Although authorities have not released his name, The Seattle Times identified the man as Richard Russell.

(Excerpt) Read more at heavy.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: hijack; richardrussell; seatac; washington
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The author has worked hard to put together a description of the person who stole the plane with lots of pictures and some videos. Here are the highlights:

1. Richard Russell, Who Spent Time in Alaska [Wasilla], Was Religious & Told Air Traffic Controllers He Was ‘Broken’

2. Richard Russell Posted a Video on YouTube About Being a Baggage Handler

3. Rich Once Ran a Bakery With His Wife & Wanted to Be in the Military

4. Richard Russell Was From Pierce County, Washington & Was Suicidal, Authorities Said

5. Rich Russell’s Wife Described Him as the Man Who Always Kept Her Laughing


1 posted on 08/11/2018 12:41:20 PM PDT by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave

He seems to have had a need to “be someone” more than he was, which a lot of people would envy.

I don’t know if he was just a typical obsessed-with-fame narcissist, like all the others our culture seems to be drowning in, or genuinely nuts.


2 posted on 08/11/2018 12:48:30 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
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To: CedarDave

He sounds like quite a character, but doesn’t really sound crazy. Makes me think he was on some kind of meds or maybe the relationship with wife suddenly went south.


3 posted on 08/11/2018 12:52:10 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: CedarDave
One hopes that there might be enough blood and tissue remaining to do some drug and toxicity screening.

And, did this alleged human take SSRIs?

4 posted on 08/11/2018 12:52:55 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in-never, never,never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. Winston Churchill)
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To: Steely Tom

A real product of contemporary American garbage culture, I would say.

Someone once said never read history, only biography.


5 posted on 08/11/2018 12:54:48 PM PDT by Catmom (We're all gonna get the punishment only some of us deserve.)
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To: CedarDave

I’m about a mile from the island. No wonder it smells like smoke at my office...


6 posted on 08/11/2018 12:55:39 PM PDT by Professional
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To: CedarDave

Another story naming the person who stole the plane:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/man-who-took-horizon-air-plane-from-sea-tac-airport-was-quiet-well-liked-says-former-co-worker/


7 posted on 08/11/2018 12:56:29 PM PDT by CedarDave (DJT: "Rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace than risk peace in the pursuit of politics.")
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To: CedarDave

His wife must be devastated by this.


8 posted on 08/11/2018 1:01:32 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: Seaplaner
And, did this alleged human take SSRIs?

I'd lay off this "alleged human" stuff.

If he was indeed on these meds then he had a mental defect and we shouldn't pile on people who cannot help themselves. All he did was destroy property and then himself. He could have dive bombed the plane into a high density area and killed untold innocents or go to a school and tallie up the dead count with a AR-15 type weapon but he did not

We all have our breaking points, some take more than others.

A little human consideration is due in this case.
9 posted on 08/11/2018 1:03:12 PM PDT by RedMonqey ("Those who turn their arms in for plowshares will be doing the plowing for those who didn't.")
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To: CedarDave

Selfish. He wanted the spotlight at tremendous to himself, his wife, and endangered the safety of many.


10 posted on 08/11/2018 1:04:26 PM PDT by HonkyTonkMan
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To: CedarDave

Take off..optional
Landing ..mandatory


11 posted on 08/11/2018 1:07:46 PM PDT by Doogle (( USAF.68-....8th TFW Ubon Thailand....never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: Seaplaner

“did this alleged human take SSRIs?”

In an adult, the only consideration of interest would be if the dosage was being titrated at the time of this incident.


12 posted on 08/11/2018 1:09:03 PM PDT by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: RedMonqey

The PERP had zero consideration for anyone else.

I wish they’d have shot the plane down.

Ketron has about 6 homes on it btw. It’s very small island.

My office is less than half mile away. Sucks if i’d been killed by that a hole.

And just how the HELL do you steal an airplane from an international airport????? Good grief...


13 posted on 08/11/2018 1:14:37 PM PDT by Professional
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To: RedMonqey

Agree.


14 posted on 08/11/2018 1:14:49 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (WINNING! !!)
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To: RedMonqey

Point well taken that we all have our breaking points.

However, the vast majority of people don’t take it anywhere near this level when they break.

This guy was broken, yes. But also spectacularly selfish.


15 posted on 08/11/2018 1:19:37 PM PDT by Catmom (We're all gonna get the punishment only some of us deserve.)
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To: CedarDave
The media continues to omit his last comment here, which I've added.

_______________________________________________

Russell said to dispatchers at one point, “You think if I can land this successfully, Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?” and the Air Traffic Control tower said, “I think they will give you a job doing anything if you pull this off.” He replied, “yeahhh right.” "I'm a white guy!"

16 posted on 08/11/2018 1:20:59 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: RedMonqey

The question I have is why was he able to operate the plane in the first place? All this security with the TSA (aka Thousands Standing Around), but none on the ramp. What did the rest of the “air side” people do, watch him pull the chocks, go to the cockpit, fire the thing up and taxi off? I only hope that a “real pilot” has be onboard a plane before any passengers are allowed on board.


17 posted on 08/11/2018 1:32:07 PM PDT by vette6387
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To: vette6387
The question I have is why was he able to operate the plane in the first place? All this security with the TSA (aka Thousands Standing Around), but none on the ramp. What did the rest of the “air side” people do, watch him pull the chocks, go to the cockpit, fire the thing up and taxi off? I only hope that a “real pilot” has be onboard a plane before any passengers are allowed on board.

Everything you need to know about how to start the engines on an aircraft and get rolling is on YouTube.

And he was cleared to be around aircraft as a baggage handler.

18 posted on 08/11/2018 1:35:57 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Professional

And just how the HELL do you steal an airplane from an international airport????? Good grief...

I am shocked that the TSA confiscating my beef jerky last week didn’t prevent this incident.


19 posted on 08/11/2018 1:37:06 PM PDT by MichiganCheese (The darker the culture, the brighter your light can shine.)
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To: Snickering Hound

“Everything you need to know about how to start the engines on an aircraft and get rolling is on YouTube.

And he was cleared to be around aircraft as a baggage handler.”

I am a pilot so I understand that it doesn’t take a whole lot of reading to understand how to start a couple of turbines, but he still should not have had unfettered access to the cockpit. Plus I would think that when the chocks were pulled and the access door closed, it should have alerted someone.


20 posted on 08/11/2018 1:40:39 PM PDT by vette6387
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