Sky King: The 2018 Sea-Tac Stolen Q400 Incident | The Untold Story of Richard Russell

In 2018, the world watched in disbelief as a Horizon Air Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by a ground service agent with zero piloting experience. On this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike break down the tragic and bizarre "Sky King" incident.We dive into the cockpit with Richard Russell to discuss:The Unauthorized Takeoff: How a tow team member managed to taxi, cross active runways, and get a 76-seat turboprop airborne.NORAD & The F-15 Scramble: The terrifying moments military jets went supersonic to intercept the stolen aircraft.The "Sky King" Legacy: A look at the viral barrel roll that defied physics and the reliable yet spotty record of the Dash 8 Q400.Humanizing the Tapes: We analyze the heart-wrenching ATC communications where controllers tried to "talk him off the bridge".Industry Aftermath: How this security breach changed airport access, two-man integrity protocols, and insider threat monitoring forever.Whether you’re a pilot or an aviation enthusiast, join us as we review the technical feats and the mental health conversation surrounding this modern aviation mystery.Listen now and join the conversation at www.TheBlackBoxAviationPodcast.com