IDENTIFIED

Man who Hijacked Plane from SeaTac Airport for Suicide Mission Identified

Officials identified the man to the New York Times and the Associated Press as Richard Russell, a ground service agent.

The man who hijacked and crashed an empty airplane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Friday night was identified as Richard Russell, a ground service employee. The Associated Press said it was informed of Russell’s identity by “a U.S. official briefed on the matter” and The New York Times was informed by “a law enforcement official.” Russell, 29, was presumed dead after the plane crashed Saturday. He told air traffic controllers that he was “just a broken guy.” Russell worked for Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines and was in charge of handling and loading planes at the gate. “He was a quiet guy. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers,” a former coworker told The Seattle Times. “I feel really bad for Richard and for his family. I hope they can make it through this.” The AP reports that according to Russell’s Facebook page, he lived in Sumner, Washington, was originally from Wasilla, Alaska, and got married in 2012.