Horizon Airlines Worker Steals, Later Crashes Q400 | AIN
Richard Russell stole a parked regional airliner Friday evening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and flew more than an hour before crashing.
www.ainonline.comHere’s the latest overview based on available public coverage up to now.
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What happened in 2018: On August 10, 2018, a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by an employee, Richard Russell. He flew the aircraft for about an hour before crashing on Ketron Island in Puget Sound; there were no passengers or other fatalities, and his death was ruled a suicide. The incident prompted investigations by federal and local authorities, including the FBI and NTSB, and was determined not to be a terrorist act. The event remains the defining moment in Horizon’s fleet retirement discussions during that period.[1][3][6]
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Aftermath and consequences: Investigations concluded that the theft was an isolated incident with no wider criminal or terrorist connections. In the wake of the crash, Horizon Air announced plans to retire its Bombardier Q400s in favor of newer regional jets, a trend that influenced fleet modernization across Horizon’s parent and affiliate operations.[3][4]
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What’s happened since: Public reporting through 2025–2026 has focused on the long-term fleet transition away from the Q400, with sources noting that Horizon and Alaska Air Group were moving toward replacing or retiring older turboprops in favor of quieter, more efficient jets. Coverage also includes retrospective analyses of the security and training implications, as well as how the incident shaped airline safety and baggage-handling protocols; some articles summarize the investigation conclusions and emphasize that the motive remains unclear.[4][5][6]
If you’d like, I can pull the most up-to-date specific statements from the NTSB/FBI final reports or recent industry analyses, and provide a concise timeline with citations.