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The FBI announced Friday that a man from Sumner had acted alone while flying an Alaska Airlines plane to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August and had accidentally crashed on it. 39, Ketron Island, Pierce County.
"The evidence gathered during the investigation indicates that Richard Russell, 28, of Sumner, Washington, piloted the aircraft and that the final ground descent was voluntary," said Lt.E. agency in a statement. "Extensive investigative activity did not reveal any other subject involved in the planning or execution of the unauthorized flight."
Russell, a member of Horizon Air's ground crew nicknamed "Beebo," was killed in the August 10 accident. No one else was hurt.
He had access to planes and towing equipment at the airport, the FBI announced.
According to the chronology of the agency, Russell will come to work around 14:30. and about five hours later, get on the plane to 76 passengers, start it, and then use a tow vehicle to steer the plane to the airfield and take off.
He crashed on the turboprop at 20:46. after acrobatic stunts as two fighter planes flew by his side.
"The FBI investigation did not reveal that Russell had received formal flight training," the statement said. "However, investigators learned that Russell was familiar with the checklist of actions to start a plane. Investigators were also aware of Russell's Internet searches for flight instruction videos.
"The investigators did not find any conclusive evidence suggesting additional informal flying training."
The cockpit voice recorder did not reveal anything of significance apart from Russell's conversation with air traffic control, which has already been widely publicized, the FBI said.
During the one hour flight, Russell also talked about his relatives to the air traffic controllers.
"I would like to apologize to each one of them," he said. "Just a broken guy. Some loosened screws. I have never known it until now.
According to the data of the flight recorder, the release stated: "If the pilot had wanted to avoid the impact with the ground, he had the time and energy to pull the column back, from lift your nose and start a climb. "
Interviews with colleagues and relatives, as well as SMS with Russell during the flight, do not indicate why he stole the plane, the FBI said.
There is no reason to believe that the theft "was linked to a broader criminal activity or to a terrorist ideology," the statement said. "Although the investigators received information about Russell's background, possible stressors, and personal life, there was no clear motivation for Russell's actions."
Alaska Airlines said that Russell was allowed to be on the tarmac at the Sea-Tac airport and inside the aircraft, and that no security protocol had been violated . His job as a land agent included baggage handling, aircraft storage and the use of tugs to move planes.
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