Richard Russell (skyjacker)
Richard Russell was a Horizon Air ground service agent who stole an empty De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport on 10 August 2018.
Richard Russell was a Horizon Air ground service agent at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. On 10 August 2018, he stole an empty De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 and took off without authorization, flying for about an hour before crashing on Ketron Island in Puget Sound. Russell died in the crash, no one else was injured, and investigators found no evidence of terrorism, treating the event as a suicide.
Background
Richard Russell worked as a ground service agent for Horizon Air at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. Public reporting identified him as a 28- or 29-year-old airport employee with no piloting experience.
The 2018 aircraft theft
On 10 August 2018, Russell boarded and started an empty Dash 8-400, taxied it without clearance, and took off from Sea-Tac Airport. Air traffic controllers and military aircraft followed the plane during the flight.
Crash on Ketron Island
After about an hour in the air, Russell crashed the aircraft on Ketron Island in Puget Sound. The crash killed him and destroyed the aircraft, while no one on the ground was harmed.
Investigation and interpretation
Reporting and subsequent investigations described Russell’s actions as intentional and consistent with suicide rather than terrorism. Sources also noted his radio exchanges with air traffic control and the absence of passengers aboard the aircraft.
Key facts
- He was a Horizon Air ground service agent at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
- On 10 August 2018, he stole an empty De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 and took off without authorization.
- Two fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the aircraft.
- Russell flew the plane for roughly 75 minutes before crashing it on Ketron Island.
- He died in the crash, and no other fatalities were reported.
The case drew international media attention, including in Canada, because it involved an extraordinary airport-security breach and a live aircraft interception over the Pacific Northwest. Canadian readers may also recognize the aircraft type, the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, as a Canadian-designed regional airliner.[2][6]
Frequently asked questions
Who was Richard Russell?
Why is he called "Sky King"?
Did anyone else die in the crash?
Was it considered terrorism?
Did Richard Russell have pilot training?
References
- Time — https://time.com/article/2026/04/13/skyking-richard-russell-true-story/Supports: Russell was a Horizon Air employee who stole a De Havilland Dash 8-400 from Sea-Tac and crashed on Ketron Island after about an hour in the air.
- The Independent — https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/richard-russell-seattle-plane-crash-hijacker-family-wife-horizon-airlines-a8488216.htmlSupports: Russell was a 29-year-old Horizon Air ground service agent who took off in an empty plane and crashed into a small island in Puget Sound.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Horizon_Air_Bombardier_Q400_incidentSupports: Unauthorized takeoff, F-15 interception, barrel roll, intentional crash, suicide finding, and no piloting experience.
- Forbes — https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestv/2026/04/16/inside-the-complex-story-of-skyking-a-ground-crew-worker-who-stole-and-flew-33m-commercial-plane/Supports: Ground service agent, no prior flying experience, live air traffic control exchanges, no broader criminal or terrorist evidence.
- HowStuffWorks — https://people.howstuffworks.com/richard-russell.htmSupports: Biographical framing, moniker Sky King, and suicide ruling.