Warning: This article mentions topics of suicide
Harrowing audio reveals the final moments of Horizon Air Q400 after the Bombardier Q400 was hijacked in August 2010.
While stories of hijackings often end in hundreds of casualties or world-renowned incidents like the September 11 attacks, this story only involves a single fatality with the hijacker himself.
On August 10, 2018, Richard Russell took the plane from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
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The 28-year-old was a Horizon Air ground service agent who had no piloting experience but managed to get into the cockpit of the Horizon Air De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400.
When the plane started to maneuver on the runway, Seattle Tower tried to radio the pilot to identify themself.
A nearby jet reported how Horizon Air Q400 started a takeoff roll with smoking wheels, leading to an unauthorized takeoff at 19:32 local time.
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Surveillance footage shows the baggage handler wearing a t-shirt that reads 'The Sky’s No Limit'. In the audio, a remarkably calm Russell says: "I’ve played video games before so I, uh, I know what I’m doing a little bit...I’ve got myself in a bit of a predicament, I’m in the air right now.”
As Russell flew around in the skies, two fighter jets were scrambled to try and intercept the plane amid fears it had been hijacked by terrorists.
Although Russell was thought to be fine in the run-up to the incident, his final audio suggests he might've been struggling. He tells Air traffic control: "[I’m] just a broken guy, got a few screws loose I guess. Never really knew it until now."
The audio features Russell saying: "I wouldn’t know how to land it. I wasn’t really planning on landing it. I just wanted to do a couple of maneuvers and see what it can do before I put her down.
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“I’m sorry about this, I hope this doesn’t ruin your day."
Although ATC suggested he try and land at the Joint Base Lewis–McChord, military installation Russell refused, saying they'd 'rough him up'.
He also asked if Alaska Airlines would give him a job if he successfully landed the plane, to which ATC responded: "They would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off.
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Russell also asked for the coordinates of an Orca that had grabbed national attention, saying he wanted to visit the whale. The jets tried to guide the plane out to the Pacific Ocean and didn't fire on it, but sadly, Russell was about to crash. He managed to pull off a barrel roll which a veteran pilot said ‘seemed pretty well executed’ and was impressive without stalling or pulling the plane's wings off.
Sadly, the Q400 finally crashed at 20:43 local time on Ketron Island in Puget Sound, destroying the plane and killing Russell.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.