‘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:

A new documentary, "#SKYKING," details the 2018 incident where Horizon Air ramp agent Richard Russell stole a Dash 8-400 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, flew it erratically, performed a barrel roll, and intentionally crashed on Ketron Island.
The film uses interviews with Russell's family and friends, alongside unreleased ATC audio, to explore his profound mental health struggles and his own description of himself as a "broken man" during the flight.
"#SKYKING" delves into Russell's personal and professional background, including childhood challenges, financial issues, job dissatisfaction, and alleged mistreatment at work, which family and friends suggest contributed to his breakdown, while also addressing the controversial "folk hero" status he gained online.

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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.