>>>
>>> I'VE
>>> I'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT ME.
AND IT'S GOING TO DISAPPOINT
THEM TO HEAR THAT I DID THIS.
>> WORDS FROM THE MAN WHO STOLE
A PLANE AT SEA-TAC.
TONIGHT FRIENDS AND FAMILY
REACT.
REACT.
REACT. >>
REACT. >> WE ARE STUNNED AND HEART
BROKEN.
BROKEN.
BROKEN. >> AND SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS.
>> THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A
JOYRIDE GONE TERRIBLY WRONG.
>> THIS GUY WAS CERTAINLY I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES.
>> IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT DOWN.
AND I JUMPED UP AND I SAID HOLY
BLEEP.
BLEEP.
BLEEP. I
BLEEP. I SAID THAT PLANE IS GOING TO
CRASH.
CRASH.
CRASH. >>
CRASH. >> GOOD EVENING I'M GREG
COPELAND.
COPELAND.
COPELAND. TONIGHT WE ARE GETTING A CLEARER
PICTURE OF THE THEFT FROM A
PLANE FROM SEA-TAC THAT LATER
CRASHED ON A SMALL PIERCE COUNTY
ISLAND.
ISLAND.
ISLAND. SOURCES SAY THE MAN WHO TOOK
THAT PLANE WAS 29-YEAR-OLD
RICHARD RUSSEL HE WORKED AS A
GROUND AGENT FOR HORIZON AIR.
THAT PLANE WAS IN THE AIR A
LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR BEFORE
CRASHING.
CRASHING.
CRASHING. THE NTSB HOPES TO RECOVER THE SO
CALLED BLACK BOX SOON.
AS WE MENTIONED RUSSEL'S FAMILY
AND FRIENDS HELD A SHORT NEWS
CONFERENCE TODAY.
CONFERENCE TODAY. HERE'S MORE ON WHAT THEY HAD TO
SAY.
SAY.
SAY. >>
SAY. >> Reporter: FRIENDS AND FAMILY
MADE A STATEMENT RIGHT NOW ABOUT
HOW THEY ARE FEELING ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED TO BEVO RUSSEL.
THAT'S WHAT THOSE CLOSE TO HIM
CALLED HIM.
CALLED HIM. >> ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY WE
ARE STUNNED AND HEART BROKEN.
IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE
WATCHING AT HOME TO BELIEVE BUT
BEVO WAS A WARM AND COMFORTING
MAN.
MAN.
MAN. HE
MAN. HE WAS A FAITHFUL HUSBAND, AND A
GOOD FRIEND.
GOOD FRIEND. HE WAS LOVED BY EVERYONE BECAUSE
HE WAS KIND AND GENTLE TO EACH
PERSON HE MET.
THIS IS A COMPLETE SHOCK TO US.
WE ARE DEVASTATED BY THESE
EVENTS AND JESUS IS TRULY THE
ONLY ONE HOLDING OUR FAMILY
TOGETHER RIGHT NOW.
WITHOUT HIM WE WOULD BE
HELPLESS.
HELPLESS.
HELPLESS. AS THE VOICE RECORDINGS SHOW HIS
INTENT WAS NOT TO HARM ANYONE.
HE WAS RIGHT IN SAYING THAT
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE LOVED HIM.
>> FAMILY AND FRIENDS DIDN'T
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS BUT THEY DID
THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SAFE AS
WELL AS GIVING THEM THEIR
PRAYERS DURING THIS TIME.
>> JENNA, THANK YOU.
ALSO TONIGHT NEW AUDIO OF THE
INCIDENT AT SEA-TAC AIR.
WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR IS
SOMEONE FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
TRYING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH
RUSSEL BEFORE HE TAKES OFF.
>> AIRCRAFT LINING UP ONE WAY.
[ INDISCERNIBLE
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> A LITTLE BIT HARD
TO MAKE
TO MAKE
TO MAKE OUT.
OUT.
OUT. HE'S
OUT. HE'S ASKING WHO IS THE DASH
EIGHT AS THAT PLANE HOLD ON
RUNWAY 16 CENTER.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW THE
PLANE GOT IN THE PARKING AREA
WITHOUT NOBODY NOTICING.
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE GROUND
CONTROL AND RAMP CONTROL
COMMUNICATIONS TO SEE WHETHER
THERE WAS SOME SORT OF FAILURE.
BY THE TIME AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
NOTICED HIM IT WAS LIKELY TO
LATE TO STOP HIM FROM TAKING
OFF.
OFF.
OFF. ONCE
OFF. ONCE HE WAS IN THE AIR AND BEGAN
TALKING WITH THE TOWER WE GET
KIND OF AN IDEA OF HIS MIND SET.
IT'S HARD TO HEAR AT TIMES BUT
IT DEFINITELY PUTS THE SITUATION
INTO PERSPECTIVE.
INTO PERSPECTIVE. >> I'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
CARE ABOUT ME.
AND IT'S GOING TO DISAPPOINT
THEM TO HEAR THAT I DID THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
JUST A BROKEN GUY.
GOT A FEW SCREWS LOOSE I GUESS.
NEVER REALLY KNEW IT UNTIL NOW.
>> YOU SAID YOU HAD 2,100 POUNDS
OF FUEL LEFT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BURN
OUT IS LIKE ON A TAKE OFF.
BUT YEAH IT BURNED QUITE A BIT
AND FASTER THAN I EXPECTED.
>> THERE IS THE RUNWAY JUST OFF
YOUR RIGHT SIDE IN ABOUT A MILE.
DO YOU SEE THAT?
THAT'S THE McCORD FIELD.
>> OH MAN THOSE GUYS WILL ROUGH
ME UP IF I TRY LANDING THERE.
I THINK I MIGHT MESS SOMETHING
UP THERE TOO.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.
HOPEFULLY, THEY BROUGHT
ANTI-AIRCRAFT.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT. >> THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT
STUFF.
STUFF.
STUFF. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE FOR
YOU TO LAND SAFELY.
>> NOT QUITE READY TO BRING IT
DOWN JUST YET.
BUT HOLY SMOKES I HAVE TO STOP
IT'S GOING DOWN QUICK.
>> IF YOU COULD COULD YOU START
A LEFT HAND TURN AND WE'LL TAKE
YOU DOWN TO THE SOUTHEAST
PLEASE.
PLEASE.
PLEASE. >> THIS IS PROBABLY LIKE JAIL
TIME FOR LIFE, HUH?
I WOULD HOPE IT IS FOR A GUY
LIKE ME.
LIKE ME.
LIKE ME. >> RIGHT NOW HE'S JUST FLYING
AROUND.
AROUND.
AROUND. AND HE JUST NEEDS SOME HELP
CONTROLLING HIS AIRCRAFT.
>> I MEAN I PLAYED SOME VIDEO
GAMES BEFORE.
GAMES BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO GET THIS CABIN ALTITUDE LIKE
I KNOW WHERE THE BOX IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME MAKE IT
PRESSURIZED OR SOMETHING SO I'M
NOT SO LIGHTHEADED.
MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE. WE'LL CHALK IT UP TO THAT.
MAYBE THAT WILL GREASE THE GEARS
A LITTLE BIT WITH THE HIGHER UP.
PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE.
>> DON'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> I JUST WANT YOU TO WHISPER
SWEET NOTHINGS INTO MY EAR.
>> IT WASN'T TOO LONG AFTER THE
PLANE WENT DOWN ON KETRON
ISLAND.
ISLAND.
ISLAND. IT'S AMONG THE SMALLEST OF THE
ISLANDS WITH ABOUT A DOZEN
HOMES, MAYBE 20 RESIDENTS.
IT SHARES A FERRY WITH ANDERSON
ISLAND TO ITS WEST.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT A MILE AND A
HALF LONG AND AT THE SOUTHERN
END WHERE THE PLANE HIT IT'S
MOSTLY WOODED AREA WITH ONLY A
COUPLE OF HOMES THERE.
HOW WAS THIS HORIZON AIRLINES
EMPLOYEE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF?
WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS
JUST YET.
JUST YET.
JUST YET. WE KNOW THE PLANE HEIST STARTED
HERE IN BASICALLY A PARKING LOT
FOR PLANES OUT OF SERVICE FOR
THE DAY.
THE DAY.
THE DAY. RICHARD RUSSEL HAD A SECURITY
CLEARANCE TO BE IN THAT AREA.
IT'S HOW HE ENTERED THE AREA AND
USED A PUSHBACK TUG TO TURN THE
PLANE AROUND TOWARDS THE RUNWAY.
HOW HE MANAGED TO DO THE REST IS
STILL A MYSTERY TO HORIZON AIR
CEO.
CEO.
CEO. >>
CEO. >> SOME MANEUVERS THAT WERE DONE
THAT WERE INCREDIBLE MANEUVERS
WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
TO OUR KNOWLEDGE HE DIDN'T HAVE
A PILOTS LICENSE.
SO TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT ARE COMPLEX
MACHINES.
MACHINES.
MACHINES. THEY'RE NOT AS EASY TO FLY ASSAY
A CESNA150.
A CESNA150. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW HE ACHIEVED
THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE DID.
>> RICHARD RUSSEL WORKED AS A
GROUNDS SERVICE AGENT FOR
3.5 YEARS.
3.5 YEARS. SO THIS IS WHAT SEA-TAC AIRPORT
LOOKED LIKE LAST NIGHT WHEN THE
EMPLOYEE TOOK THE PLANE.
THE AIRPORT CAME TO A GROUND
STOP.
STOP.
STOP. ALL
STOP. ALL INBOUND PLANES WERE DIVERTED
TO PORTLAND.
TO PORTLAND. AT LEAST EIGHT PLANES HAD TO
MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. THE PLANES REFUELED AND TOOK OFF
AROUND 1:00 A.M.
AND AT LEAST
ONE PORTLAND TO SEATTLE FLIGHT
WAS DELAYED.
WAS DELAYED. ALASKA AIRLINES CEO TALKED ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
>> WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR
SINCERE SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY,
HIS LOVED ONES, AND HIS
COWORKERS.
COWORKERS. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
AUTHORITIES TO HELP ANSWER THE
MANY OPEN QUESTIONS THAT THEY
HAVE.
HAVE.
HAVE. >>
HAVE. >> HE SAYS THE COMPANY IS
WORKING WITH THE FBI TO FIGURE
OUT HOW THE HORIZON AIRLINE
EMPLOYEE WAS ABLE TO STEAL THAT
PLANE.
PLANE.
PLANE. SO
PLANE. SO MORE NOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
INSIDE THE COCKPIT.
DURING THE FLIGHT RICHARD RUSSEL
TALKS ABOUT HIS STATE OF MIND.
YOU HEARD THAT A LITTLE BIT IN
SOME OF THE CLIPS AND HIS JOB AT
HORIZON AIRLINES AND THAT HE
MADE MINIMUM WAGE.
HERE'S MORE ON THAT.
>> Reporter: ABOUT 45 MINUTES
INTO THE ERRATIC FLIGHT RICHARD
RUSSEL IS RECORDED ON AUDIO TAPE
MENTIONING HORIZON AIRLINES AND
THE LOW WAGE THEY PAID.
>> MINIMUM WAGE.
WE'LL CHALK IT UP TO THAT.
MAYBE THAT WILL GREASE THE GEARS
A LITTLE BIT WITH THE HIGHER
UPS.
UPS.
UPS. MAYBE YEAH.
MAYBE YEAH. >> COWORKERS WE SPOKE WITH TODAY
SAID WORKING AT THE RAMP ON
HORIZON IS AN UNDERSTAFFED
GRUELLING GRIND WHERE EMPLOYEES
AREN'T TREATED WITH RESPECT.
SOME SAID THE WORK CULTURE MOST
LIKELY PROMPTED RUSSEL TO QUOTE
TEACH BOSSES A LESSON.
ONE TOLD ME QUOTE HE WAS GOING
TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY PUSHED A
GOOD GUY TO HIS LIMITS.
>> HI I'M BEVO RUSSEL AND I'M A
GROUND AGENT.
GROUND AGENT. THAT MEANS I LIFT A LOT OF BAG.
>> HE POSTS PICTURES WHERE HE
LOOKS PROUD TO BE ON THE TARMAC
AND WALKS ABOUT THE GREAT
AIRLINE BENEFITS OF FREE TRAVEL
WITH TRIPS TO FRANCE, MEXICO,
SKI RESORTS, IRELAND, AND A
ALASKA.
ALASKA.
ALASKA. >> BUT IT ALLOWS ME TO DO SOME
PRETTY COOL THINGS TOO.
>> RUSSEL'S BLOG ALSO SHOWS A
FASCINATION WITH AVIATION IN
GENERAL POSTING NOTES ABOUT A
PERSONAL LOGO HE'S CREATING
INCLUDING SKETCHES OF AIRPLANES,
AND A SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO A
Q400.
Q400.
Q400. THE
Q400. THE EXACT TYPE OF PLANE HE STOLE
AND CRASHED.
AND CRASHED. >> THERE'S NO QUESTION MINIMUM
WAGE HAS BEEN IN BITTER
CONTROVERSY AT HORIZON AND
ALASKA AIRLINES FOR YEARS.
FIVE YEARS AGO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE MADE A MANDATORY $15
MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE. SO SOME PEOPLE IN THE FAST FOOD
INDUSTRY ARE MAKING $15 AN HOUR
WHILE THOSE ON THE RAMP ARE JUST
MAKING $12.
MAKING $12. >> NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF
KETRON ISLAND UNTIL LAST NIGHT.
>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU TURN NOW
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
TRANQUILLITY BROKEN BY THOSE
JETS IN PURSUIT OF THAT Q400.
>> PLANES ARE USUALLY FLYING BY.
PLANES DOING LOOP DE LOOP OUT IN
FRONT OF THE FERRY DOCK.
>> THAT COMMUNITY HAD A FRONT
ROW SEAT TO THE WILD NIGHT.
NOW A SERIES OF VARIOUS AGENCIES
TRAVELING THROUGH THERE TO GET
TO KETRON.
TO KETRON. A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAIN
UNANSWERED