Connect with us

Aerospace

This video game-inspired guy stole the real aircraft, and the result was shocking.

The plane was stolen from the tarmac by one of the Alaska personnel. He was inspired by the video game and felt competent flying it, so he stole it and the outcome was unexpected.

This video game-inspired guy stole the real aircraft, and the result was shocking.

This incident occurred in 2018, when one of the Alaska Ground handling employees took the bombardier Q-400 aircraft at Seattle International Airport. No one knows how he managed to steal the large aircraft.

Here is the story of how he managed to steal it. According to Richard Russell, a 29-year-old man who spoke with the ATC, he has had video game experience. He described the sensation of flying actual planes and killing himself as “insane.” A new surveillance video reveals the moment a baggage handler at Seattle International Airport stole an Alaska Airlines plane before deliberately crashing it on a secluded island and killing himself.

Advertisement

A video from 2018 shows a man stealing an Alaska Airlines Q400 plane from Seattle International Airport. Richard Russell, 29, worked as a baggage handler at the airport and had access to aircraft on the tarmac. He pushed back the aircraft, boarded inside, took control, rolled to the runway, and took off. Controllers try to persuade him to return to land, but he ultimately decides to crash.

He can be seen wearing a black T-shirt with the words ‘The Sky’s No Limit’ printed on the back. He grabs his backpack and continues.

Advertisement

More than five hours later, he is then seen making it out onto the tarmac in the cargo area of the airport and then using a tow vehicle to push the propeller aircraft back out onto a taxiway.

Air traffic control started to sense something was not right, and tried to make contact with the plane, but received no response.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Russell’s co-workers can be seen walking nearby, oblivious to the fact that he is about to get behind the controls of the plane.

Russell can be seen opening the cabin door to the Q400 Turboprop and jumping into the cockpit and taking off.

Advertisement

‘Seattle ground Horizon guy. About to take off. It’s gonna be crazy,’ he radios the control tower.

Video shot from the ground later shows him performing stunts over Puget Sound.

Advertisement

‘Hey, I found myself in a predicament. I’m in the air right now. And just gonna soar around,’ he can be heard saying over the radio.

On air traffic control recordings, Russel can be heard speaking with controllers who attempt to persuade him  to make a safe landing.

Advertisement

Russell can also be heard joking with air traffic controllers.

At one point, he even asked air traffic controllers: ‘Hey do you think if I land this successfully Alaska will give me a job as a pilot?’

Advertisement

The air traffic controller, trying to keep him on side, replied ‘you know, I think they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off’, to which Russell replied: ‘Yeah right! Nah, I’m a white guy.’

Air traffic controllers can also be heard begging Russell to land the plane and try to give him directions to a runway where he can put the plane down in one piece.

Advertisement

Check the video for more details :

Advertisement

‘There is the runway just off your right side in about a mile, do you see that?’ the traffic controller said.

‘Oh those guys will try to rough me up if I try land there…,’ Russell replied. ‘I think I might mess something up there too. I wouldn’t want to do that. Oh they probably have got anti-aircraft.’

Advertisement

‘They don’t have any of that things, we’re just trying to find you a safe landing spot,’ said the traffic controller.

Russell informed the air traffic controller that he wasn’t ‘quite ready’ to land the jet.

Advertisement

‘But holy smokes, I need to quit staring at the fuel because it’s running out fast,’ he continued.

‘OK, Rich, could you start a left turn and we’ll move you down to the south-east?’ replied the traffic controller.

Advertisement

‘This is definitely life in prison, huh?’ Russell responded. ‘I’m hoping it’s for a guy like myself.’

While still in the air, Russel is heard telling traffic controllers that he is “just a broken guy,” before assuring them that he is preparing for “life in prison.”

Advertisement

Two F-15 fighter planes were deployed from Portland to intercept the plane’minutes’ after it took off.

They were unsuccessful, and Russell intentionally crashed the jet on an island some 30 miles away, killing himself, one hour and 13 minutes after takeoff.

Advertisement

Sheriff Paul Pastor described the incident as a “joyride gone horribly wrong” at the time. He stated that the man “did something dumb and may have paid with his life.”

Witnesses said they saw the plane perform barrel rolls and loop-the-loops as military planes diverted it away from densely populated areas.

Advertisement

According to the FBI, there was no proof that Russell had ever gotten flight training, but he was familiar with the checklist for starting an aeroplane after watching instructional videos online.

Russell is heard on cockpit audio records informing air traffic controllers that he didn’t need as much assistance piloting the aircraft because he had previously played video games.

Advertisement

‘Despite receiving information about Russell’s background, potential pressures, and personal life, no factor gave a clear motivation for Russell’s actions,’ according to the study.

He became concerned about the upcoming circumstances, and he considered crashing the plane.

Advertisement

Tell us what you think about the accident.

Courtesy : https://www.king5.com, more source 

Advertisement

 

Advertisement

He is an aviation journalist and the founder of Jetline Marvel. Dawal gained a comprehensive understanding of the commercial aviation industry.  He has worked in a range of roles for more than 9 years in the aviation and aerospace industry. He has written more than 1700 articles in the aerospace industry. When he was 19 years old, he received a national award for his general innovations and holds the patent. He completed two postgraduate degrees simultaneously, one in Aerospace and the other in Management. Additionally, he authored nearly six textbooks on aviation and aerospace tailored for students in various educational institutions. jetlinem4(at)gmail.com

Aerospace

The LCA Tejas Aircraft Crash: Understanding the Reasons – Air Marshal GS Bedi’s Perspective

The LCA Tejas Aircraft Crash: Understanding the Reasons - Air Marshal GS Bedi's Perspective

Air Marshal GS Bedi, a renowned fighter jet pilot and experienced crew member, recently participated in a YouTube interview with Def Talks hosted by Aadi. During the interview, he provided insights into the recent Tejas aircraft crash in Rajasthan, which marks one of the first crashes involving an aircraft from the Tejas family since its production commenced 20 years ago.

Numerous questions have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the Tejas aircraft crash and the potential causes of failure. Air Marshal Bedi adeptly addressed these concerns by outlining possible scenarios that could have led to the crash. His expertise shed light on the complexities involved in such incidents and provided valuable perspective on the aviation community’s understanding of the event.

Advertisement

At the outset, Tejas lacked a simulator and a trainer aircraft for initial training. However, pilots were provided with simulation trials before flying the Tejas aircraft. Initial reviews indicated stability during flight, with the aircraft maintaining a straight glide. However, there was an incident where the aircraft experienced an engine malfunction, prompting the pilot to eject safely.

Pilot Safe Ejections

The decision to eject was made as a precautionary measure, considering the aircraft’s low altitude and steep descent angle. With the aircraft’s altitude dropping rapidly, attempting to balance and land it was deemed too risky. Ejecting ensured the pilot’s safety, as deploying a parachute at such low altitudes could have been disastrous.

Advertisement

He chose to eject to ensure a safer distance from the ground. The aircraft is at an angle of less than 3 degrees during the approach. At a height of 100 meters, the aircraft is nearly 20 times its length away from the ground. This means the touchdown point will be approximately 4 kilometers ahead.

However, as the altitude decreases, the approach becomes too short due to the rapid descent rate. Consequently, the pilot opts to eject rather than attempt to stabilize the aircraft for a ground landing. If he had not ejected, there’s a high probability that his parachute would have deployed at that low altitude.

Advertisement

LCA Tejas engine Issue

Investigations revealed the engine malfunction was likely due to lubrication issues or other technical faults. Such split-second decisions underscore the potentially catastrophic outcomes that can result from technical failures.

The pilot involved was highly experienced and well-trained for airshow displays, suggesting timely decision-making. Nevertheless, accidents can stem from technical glitches, human errors, or unforeseen circumstances like bird strikes.

Advertisement

Air Marshal Bedi emphasized the importance of pilots being trained for emergency situations, including ejecting from the aircraft when control is lost. Despite advancements in technology, technical issues remain unpredictable, necessitating ongoing learning and improvements in aircraft systems.

Today, the Tejas mk1A aircraft completed its inaugural flight at the Bangalore station, marking the dawn of a new, advanced version of the Tejas aircraft. This iteration boasts enhanced avionics and improved aircraft structure.

Advertisement

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Aerospace

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China consistently keeps aviation enthusiasts surprised with its advancements in fighter jets and other aircraft. Leading the pack in Asia, China continuously pushes boundaries in developing domestically-built aircraft.

Recently, images circulating on the internet reveal China’s latest creation, the Z-21 helicopter. Resembling its predecessor, the Z-10, this helicopter boasts enhanced fighter capabilities. The emergence of these images sparks questions regarding the fate of plans to acquire Russian-made Ka-52K attack helicopters, particularly the naval version.

Advertisement

Observing the helicopter in flight, it shares design elements with the Harbin Z-10, notably in the front fuselage and cockpit canopy. The wing stubs for weapon mounts exhibit similar shapes, though with less pronounced angular features. With a tandem seating arrangement, the Z-21 also draws comparisons to the Mil Mi-28, featuring an elongated body with five rotor blades and weapon bays on its sides.

The unveiling of the Z-21 has triggered speculation about its potential role in future military operations. Analysts suggest that beyond its firepower, its introduction could signal significant technological advancements. There’s particular interest in whether China will incorporate a ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ system akin to later Apache models, enabling the Z-21 to control armed drones for reconnaissance and attacks, reducing risks to the helicopter itself.

Advertisement

The emergence of the Z-21 underscores China’s increasing military prowess and its commitment to developing cutting-edge weaponry. Its deployment and capabilities will be closely monitored, especially concerning regional security dynamics.

The helicopter presents a significant challenge to American-built Apache and other medium helicopters, boasting superior capacity for flying at higher altitudes and more powerful speed and combat capabilities, thus enhancing its effectiveness on the battlefield. On the other hand, amidst ongoing Indian border tensions, this aircraft is poised to play a crucial role in surveillance along the sensitive China border and beyond.

Advertisement

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Aerospace

Qantas Airbus A330 Makes Safe Landing After Engine Blowout

Woman spends tortuous three months trying to resolve huge Qantas errors

A Qantas Airbus A330 Aircraft, flight number QF781, has landed safely without incident in
Perth after the passengers on the Perth-bound flight reported hearing a ‘loud bang’ from one
side of the twin-engined plane engine. The Airbus A330 aircraft made a priority landing at
Perth Airport around 9:37pm local time on 25 March, arriving approximately 52 minutes
behind schedule.


Upon landing, emergency services met with the aircraft on the tarmac. However, the aircraft
taxied to the gate without assistance, with the passengers disembarking normally.
The ‘loud bang’ heard by passengers happened due to a mid-air engine blowout, therefore
resulting in the pilots having to manually shut off the affected engine, together with
requesting a priority landing into Perth Airport. Qantas also added in a statement that the
Airbus A330 aircraft was designed to operate with one engine too.

Advertisement


Qantas QF781 is a daily scheduled flight from Melbourne to Perth, utilising the Airbus A330
on the route. The Aircraft in question is VH-EBA, an approximately 21 years aircraft,
equipped with 2 GE CF6 engines according to airfleets.net. The Airbus A330 have been a
frequent regional workhorse in Qantas’ fleet, connecting major australian cities with major
destinations within Asia. the Airbus A330 is also used on high-density domestic routes,
similar to QF781, from Melbourne to Perth.

Advertisement

Engine Issues – Should you be concerned?


While engine issues are highly uncommon due to the stringent checks and quality control on
each component within the engine, there might still be exceptional occasions where such
incidents happen. However, while recognising the risks of dual engines, Aircraft
Manufacturers and Organisations have actually came up with standards so as to ensure that
an aircraft can also land on a single engine, similar to what we saw on QF781.


One of the most well known standard is Extended-range Twin-engine Operations
Performance Standards (ETOPS) which is an acronym for twin-engine operation in an
airspace further than one hour from a diversion airport at a designated one engine
inoperable speed. This ensures that twin-engined aircraft could safely operate routes over
water or remote land without an alternative airport near the flight path, which once required
aircraft with 3 or 4 engines to fly on that route.

Advertisement


In this case, the Airbus A330 has been certified to fly ‘Beyond ETOPS 180’, and have
received ETOPS 240 certification, which is a certification to enable the twin-engined aircraft
to fly for up to a maximum of 240 minutes with 1 engine inoperative in a cruise condition.
Currently, most twin-engined widebody aircraft in operation would generally have an ETOPS
certification of at least ETOPS 180, with the new Airbus A321LR also having ETOPS 180
certification, therefore enabling the narrowbody to fly long haul flights.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Aerospace

Boeing CEO Resigns Amid 737 MAX Crisis, Ignites Management Overhaul

Boeing CEO Resigns Amid 737 MAX Crisis, Ignites Management Overhaul

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has announced his resignation amidst the ongoing 737 MAX crisis, signaling a significant top management shakeup at the aerospace giant.

While Calhoun will continue leading the company until the end of 2024, his decision comes amid mounting pressure following a series of setbacks, including the recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight. This departure coincides with the retirement of Boeing Commercial President and CEO Stan Deal, who is succeeded by Stephanie Pope, the current Chief Operating Officer.

Advertisement

The announcement, made by Larry Kellner, boeing products chairman, outlines a broader restructuring within the company’s leadership. Steve Mollenkopf, a Boeing director since 2020 and former CEO of Qualcomm, will take over as chairman and lead the board in selecting a new CEO. This strategic move comes at a critical juncture as boeing airplanes
faces intense regulatory scrutiny and production constraints due to safety and quality issues.

The market’s initial response to the news was positive, with Boeing’s shares rising by 2 percent before regular trading. However, the boeing aircraft company stock had experienced a significant decline earlier in the year, reflecting investor concerns about boeing distribution aviall the ongoing challenges and uncertainties surrounding the 737 MAX program.

Advertisement

Calhoun stressed the company’s commitment to transparency, safety, and quality in a letter to employees.“We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency. We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company,” he said.

“The eyes of the world are on us, and I know we will come through this moment a better company, building on all the learnings we accumulated as we worked together to rebuild Boeing over the last number of years.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending