On August 10, 2018, Richard Russell stole a Q400 plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He proceeded to perform a series of acrobatic feats in the air over Puget Sound before purposefully crashing the 76-seat passenger plane into a nearby island.
He died in the crash. Since then, he became known as the “Sky King.”
Richard Russell was born in 1989 in Key West, Florida. At the age of seven, he moved to Wasilla, Alaska. He attended Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Oregon, where he met his wife. The couple ran a bakery for three years before moving to Sumner, Washington.
Russell worked for Horizon Air as a ground service agent while attending Washington State University. The job allowed him to visit his family in Alaska whenever he wanted.
He graduated in 2017 with a degree in social sciences at the age of 27 and planned to seek a management position at Horizon Air or join the military as an officer.
But the very next year, he stole a plane, took an unauthorized flight, and did not live to achieve his career goals. He wasn’t the type of guy you’d expect to steal a plane.
Russell liked wrestling, football, craft beer, and pastries. He was described as extroverted, compassionate, reliable, goofy, and athletic.
There were never any signs that he would do something drastic. So, it came as quite a shock when he stole a plane. Russell arrived at the airport for his scheduled shift at 2:36 p.m. on August 10, 2018.
He had spent three and a half years towing planes and cargo for Horizon Air, so he was familiar with being in the cockpit. He also knew how to operate the plane on land, although he never had any formal flight training.
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That evening, he decided to fly. He had worked alone to steal the aircraft. At 7:33 p.m., he left the airport and flew around the Seattle area for the next hour and 13 minutes. He even tried out some risky tricks.
He refused to land the plane after completing a successful barrel roll. Russell’s plane crashed into the woods on Ketron Island in Puget Sound at 8:46 p.m., and he died of his injuries. He was 28 years old.
According to a press release from the FBI, Russell’s plane crash had been deliberate. His death was ruled a suicide. Reports showed that he had time to raise the plane and avoid impact with the ground, but he didn’t.
The incident rocked the nation, and everyone was confused as to what had driven Russell to pull such a deadly stunt. Some of his friends and family members speculated that Russell may have been struggling with chronic traumatic encephalopathy as a result of suffering multiple concussions from playing football.
The condition is associated with depression, impulsivity, and suicidal ideation.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
