‘Broken Man’ Who Stole an Airplane: Inside the ‘#SKYKING’ Tragedy

New documentary uses previously unreleased audio and emotional family interviews to explore the mental health crisis that led to hijacking in 2018.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, April 20, 2026 at 03:05 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The documentary "#SKYKING" revisits the 2018 incident where Horizon Air ramp agent Richard Russell, with no pilot experience, stole a Dash 8-400 from Sea-Tac, flew it for over an hour, performed aerobatics, and then intentionally crashed on a remote island, killing himself.
The film explores Russell's mental health and motivations through newly released ATC audio recordings and emotional interviews with his family and friends, who reflect on his deteriorating state.
It highlights Russell's background, including financial struggles, failed career aspirations, and alleged workplace mistreatment (low pay, denied promotion, derogatory terms), which his loved ones believe contributed to his ultimate breakdown.
The documentary also addresses the public's response, including Russell's "folk hero" status and the politicization of his story, which his family disputes as misinterpretations.

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On August 10, 2018, a ramp agent for Horizon Air at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) who had zero pilot experience stole an empty de Havilland Dash 8-400 and took it for a one-hour-and-15-minute joy ride around southwestern Washington state.

All the while he talked with an air traffic controller (ATC) and an experienced Q400 pilot, both of whom tried to get him to land the aircraft. Instead, the pilot, 29-year-old Richard “Beebo” Russell, performed a barrel roll then ended the flight with an intentional crash on a sparsely populated, heavily forested island west of Tacoma.