A Quiet Evening Turns Into a Mystery
On the evening of August 10, 2018, air traffic controllers at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport watched in disbelief as a Bombardier Q400 belonging to Horizon Air began taxiing without authorization. The aircraft, registered as N449QX, was not scheduled for another flight that day. At the controls was Richard “Beebo” Russell, a 28-year-old ground service agent with no pilot’s license or flight training. Moments later, the aircraft roared down runway 16C and lifted into the sky.
A Ground Worker in the Sky
Russell had worked for Horizon Air for about four years, towing and loading aircraft. Known as polite and reserved, he had no record of trouble at work. That night, he took off alone and spoke calmly with Seattle air traffic control. He described himself as “a broken guy” and said he did not want to hurt anyone. Controllers and pilots tried to guide him toward a safe landing, but he made clear he did not plan to return.
Fighter Jets and Barrel Rolls
Within minutes, two F-15C Eagles from the Oregon Air National Guard were scrambled under NORAD command. They reached supersonic speeds, causing sonic booms across the region. As they approached, Russell performed a full barrel roll over Puget Sound, recovering just meters above the water. Witnesses on the ground recorded the spectacle, while air traffic control continued to plead for him to land. He declined, telling controllers, “I was kind of hoping that was gonna be it.”
Crash on Ketron Island
At 8:43 p.m., about 75 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft crashed into dense forest on Ketron Island, Washington. The impact and fire destroyed the plane but caused no injuries on the ground. Firefighters arrived by ferry and worked through the night to contain the blaze. The next day, investigators from the FBI, FAA, and NTSB began their work.
Aftermath and Investigation
The FBI found no evidence of terrorism or outside assistance. Russell had acted alone, and his death was ruled a suicide. Flight data confirmed the descent was intentional. His family described him as kindhearted and said they were “stunned and heartbroken.” Cleanup of the $30 million aircraft’s wreckage continued for years, and debris was still being recovered as late as 2019.
A Last Flight Remembered
Audio of Russell’s calm voice and recordings of his flight spread quickly online. The incident became one of the most unusual and widely discussed events in modern aviation history, showing how a single ground worker managed to take off, maneuver, and crash a commercial aircraft alone.
On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Q400 left a stand at Seattle Tacoma International and took off without clearance.
At the controls was ground service agent Richard Beebo Russell, alone.
Air traffic control made contact.
Fighter jets launched…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/Jy3XMRzWWI
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) October 31, 2025