Richard Russell (Sky King) | Mental Health & Personality
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2020
- This video answers the questions: Can I discuss the mental health and personality factors that may be at work in the Richard Russell case? Richard Russell is also known as the “Sky King.”
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I think the reason ppl were so quick to forgive him is because it's relatable.
Lots of ppl are in jobs they hate, are underappreciated, and underpaid.
It probably also helped the fact that no one other than Russell was injured or killed in the incident, unlike with other suicidal pilots seeking to take out as many ppl as possible with them; a different kind of depression.
...and he did it while cracking jokes (which fell no flatter than Dr Grande's jokes do with me, tbh) and performing aerobatics.
He's no hero, obviously - but an argument could be made for labelling him an anti-hero...
*_ABSOLUTELY!_* 💯 🎯
another person who 100% gets it. Better than this quack doctor who cares about $$$ and things rather than the real bigger picture .... the lost souls. God Bless you ya lil plastic devil .... amen !!!
But they don't crash airplanes! (thank God)
He actually got really lucky, didn’t he? Of all the shit that could’ve resulted from his actions he killed just himself. He actually wounded a bunch but fuck, in terms of the potential for disaster, I think he got what he was looking for. When he met his maker he couldn’t have reasonably asked for anything more.
I thought his jokes were funny, but then again I’ve had problems with depression and suicidal ideation for most of my life. Maybe you just had to be there, so to speak. I can see how taking control of a life you think is meaningless by taking your own life in a grandiose and unusual manner could feel very freeing. A brief moment of happiness in the depths of despair seems worth any price when you’ve been down in the pit so long.
Wow an actual comment that makes sense and speaks to the REAL matter of his actual SOUL. Kudos sir.
Glad your here buddy. I enjoyed your comment !
Well said!
That shit was funny and he’s a legend fuck his bosses
Some suicidal and depressed people gain a certain amount of clarity before following through on their plan to take their own life. Depressed people aren't most likely to commit suicide when they are in a near-catatonic state of mind but when they get a bit more clear headed and determined. At that point I suspect things become almost dreamlike and the selfpity disappears for a while so they act more "normal" although they are still severely depressed.
In all seriousness, I can see why Beebo was liked and loved by so many. He seemed like such a funny, caring person. He never had intentions of hurting anyone but himself and he didn’t. Rest in peace Sky King. You’re free now.
His attempt at humor did not fall flat, he is the Sky King!
Imagine idolizing somebody who had no purpose in their life, and on top of that killed themselves.
@@piperpilot26 what's your purpose in life? work breed and die your life has just as little meaning or purpose as his did
@@kotzer71 my purpose is to serve my fellow human in the best way possible. To offer love, compassion, inspiration and hope whenever I can. I'm currently working towards my commercial pilot's license.
@@piperpilot26😂😂you’re just yet another clown that doesn’t understand society or where it has been going. People like beebo are ALL AROUND YOU. Hope that makes you feel great. You deserve it
YES !!!! 100% @@piperpilot26
I'm officially diagnosing Richard Russell as a really cool, fun, hilarious dude that was sick of this shitty world and wanted to have a great time on his way out without hurting anyone else.
Financial losses is hurting others
@@MaynardFreek Yep. It's amazing how the airlines can put endless butts in seats and still declare bankruptcy.
They had plenty of insurance. Your tax dollars for the F-16s. Your tax dollars get spent in much worse ways without you even knowing about it.
I agree he went out the way he wanted to.
Did you know Richard was an astounding football player that scored 6 touchdowns in one game in High school, and was one of the best wrestlers in his state. He married at 19, and was involved in his church, owned a bakery w/ his wife, and had many friends and family members who loved him. I doubt he was depressed, just stressed b/c he figured he was worth more than $12 hr., and the company he worked for ruined his life. Kid had a lot going for him. I think he lived a great life, and I feel his family is the victim here.
@MaynardFreek insurance paid for everything get out of here with that bullshit
I was working in Sea-Tac just last year, and it was still big news in the aircraft world. I am an a/c mechanic and I worked at several locations in the Seattle area for a very large aircraft manufacturer. Mr. Russell had a sympathetic hero worship from many mechanics there. Some were there the night he took the a/c. They surmised he got his training from flight simulator games and probably could have landed safely had he wanted. I watched a re-inactment video shortly thereafter, and he actually performed a barrel roll much to the military jet fighters horror. They asked him not to do that again. I feel so sorry for the jet pilots and the ATC personnel involved, they worked hard to remain calm and composed to save Mr. Russell's life, this was not the outcome that they had hoped for. As a side note, I used to pronounce Bombardier they same way as you, until an ex-employee of Bombardier told me it was pronounced Bom-bar-dee-a, it's a French name. Keep up your respectful and concise analysisses, I always learn from them.
Pronounced in the U.K. bombar.. DEER
Analysis
@@franmellor9843 it's a Canadian company, it's pronounced the French way.
I still say bom-ba-dear
More than ever know
I'll pronounce it how it's spelled.
If anyone hasn't heard the actual audio of him speaking to ATC, I recommend you search for it. If your only information about Richard is from this video, he honestly sounds a bit more unlikable than he really was. I first discovered him yesterday on TikTok and cried the entire day. When he said he was a "broken man" my heart just broke. He sounded like a genuine guy. 💔
skyking is a hero and will live on in our hearts forever. this dude is just grifting for views. desecrating his memory.
My initial emotion is sadness. He doesn't sound like a bad guy. And I can identify with hard work and low pay. RIP
Your emotions are meaningless we don’t pay with emotions
His attempts at humor were all amazing
Successful attempts
Me and my Roomate say “everything’s peachy. Peachy Clean.” All the time.
RIP
Actually, it's supposed to be "Peachy Keen," but that's not what SKY KING said. RIP Beebo Russell@@KurtBob
The guy didn't steal 840 cars from 840 owners. He stole one plane from one company, crashed it, killing himself, and causing no other casualties. Do this guy understand how stuck-up he sounds? Even if a few people get laid off because of the EXECUTIVES' decisions to cut costs, everyone did their jobs and got paid for dealing with the situation. The fighter jet pilot, the response and cleanup people, and every other common man got paid to do what they do, while the people who leach off of 15 layers of interest took a little hit. But apparently, their pain is our pain now? Fuck 'em. Richard is a hero.
well said!
You really don't care about what could have happened regardless of the actually outcome. Him stealing a plane was not his job. If you had a stake in the aircraft that was lost or your flight was canceled or delayed sue to his actions are you saying people should be do it and be cheered
Straight Up. 1000% Percent.
It’s true. When depression is suddenly lifted, look out.
By lifted, what do you mean?
Meaning a depressed person suddenly become happy.
Look out! He’s comin for ya!
I am forever grateful a friend saw this and got me help. The lift is real.
I would like to feel that one more time. I have only felt it a few times in my life.
I remember the first and only time that I saw a sunrise that lifted my soul. It was just after I got out of a coma. I will never forget that day. I can only imagine what it would be like to feel that most of the time.
Most cheerful suicide ever!
Seriously though, I hope his family is doing well. He seemed like a great guy who will be missed by many.
He said there was no way he'd get a job as a pilot even if he landed the plane safely because he was a white guy. That reeks of racism.
@@humanbeing2420 No they asked him what ethnicity he is and he just answered that.
@@humanbeing2420 well when your male white and getting min wage can u blame him? Were not allowed to even be allowed to bitch cause we all in everyone elses eyes "have it so good?. Idiots like Trump don't help the cause either.
It wasn't suicide he's in the sky with our father forever 💙♥
@@humanbeing2420 racism? It's Seattle! Wtf 😅 it's fact
They've got to stop leaving the keys on the sun visor.
Omg! Laugh of the day.
Hilarious.
Sky King would love your humour!!
hell..... they got put a damn key in it so you NEED a key to start it.....
Tasteless and just sad.
This story is truly fascinating. It's pretty amazing how easily a baggage handler can steal a plane on the tarmac. RIP to Richard, as thankfully no one was hurt on the ground. Thanks for this one, Doc!
I honestly have no clue how I had never heard about this until now ?!!? Wow, I can’t even imagine what was going on at ATC the whole time! They did a great job, I agree! Great video, as always! 😀👍
Our society operates on the premise that people will behave "normally" unless they have shown increasingly strange behavior previously. This guy seemed pretty normal up to the point he stole the plane.
@@fouresterofthetrees287 That's true unless someone calls the cops on someone else. The cops will always assume the worst is a good possibility, i.e. the person is almost definitely on drugs or drunk, possesses a weapon, and intends to commit or has committed a crime, and the police will act accordingly.
From what I heard although no one was hurt the last emergency services called were at risk
I read about it after watching this video and although no one was hurt the crash was near a cabin that had people in it and the tiny island population (twenty-something people) has also incurred clean-up costs. I don’t much hold it against him but I don’t know why he didn’t just fly out to sea. Even on a sparsely inhabited island there was some risk. Plus humans aren’t the only individuals. He almost certainly killed a lot of animals.
There's a huge difference between stealing and destroying an expensive plane from a large corporation and doing the same to an equivalent price of items owned by average people. Most people hate large corporations and see them as the enemy. You're not going to find much sympathy for them.
Stealing is stealing, end of story, period.
@@V-Smith True, what's also true is that wage theft is the largest form of theft in the United States. Businesses can be shockingly destructive. WAY to many dead beat employers that will do anything to pay as little as possible for valuable labor.
Maybe paying people more than just enough to scrape by, and making work environments that people actually want to be in so they can live with dignity isn't a bad idea.
@@V-Smith they dont care about pocketing a third of your paycheck, pension and social security. But stay on that mindless drone grind.
Consider it back pay for ALL the employees these companies underpay
It also has to be noted that a corporation is a government entity and that governments can only exist by forcefully stealing from the population that lives within their borders. Airline companies specifically are heavily government-subsidised and as such they directly profit from theft via the government.
I'm not making a political argument here but I think it's a bit rich when people like Valerie up there want to talk about stealing as if this situation is the same as an armed robbery or shoplifting.
I have to admit I used to think suicide was a very selfish act. Because of your videos you have allowed me to see this differently and I understand now that a clinically depressed person is in such pain and just want it to end. Thank you for taking the time to educate us all and to see a different point of view.
There is something of the anti-hero about Richard Russell. I'm sure huge financial damage was caused. However, most people won't feel the same sympathy for a faceless aviation company that lost a plane (which was probably insured) compared to a community of individuals that had 840 cars stolen.
Exactly. I don't feel any sympathy for the company that owned the aircraft. I wouldn't steal their property, but they mean nothing to me, so I don't care if they flourish or go bankrupt. Most people have bigger problems than caring about some airline, so just not giving a shit about them is an understandable attitude for most people to have, especially considering how much people gripe about air travel.
Brian Crawford If you trying for sarcasm, it’s not working.
@@DT-bp2om Exactly.
@@shawnaweesner3759 Why would I be trying for sarcasm? This is the written word, and it's difficult to detect sarcasm. Besides, I don't use it. I'm not a surly teenager anymore.
It was a bad analogy to me. The US government shoots offf million dollar missiles and drones ALL THE TIME, and almost no one gets upset. That's like a billion cars yearly.
Heroic. He created something better, and found a way.
"It would seem reasonable to believe he was high..." Oh that would explain it. "... in openness to experience." Oh.
Lol .. I thought the same thing, you beat me to it
+1
My thoughts exactly lol
True, in my opinion he had hoped to attain a better job if he pulled this off. Maybe he lost control after those air maneuvers. In fact, no one will know the truth.
@@DrManuela He said he wouldn't be able to because he was 'white'
He was totally relatable. I can relate in feeling lost and down . Also working in a job with no respect and poor conditions. He was just an normal guy that didn't want to hurt anyone but himself. Sad story and I'm sorry for his family and friends.
It’s an indictment on contemporary wage labor (how we live almost our entire lives).
At the height of the industrial Revolution the American working class (Frederick Douglass included) considered wage labor as wage slavery, only slightly better than chattel slavery. Spending almost all your life being commanded to do the same monotonous tasks endlessly in an environment where you have no say or control over your actions is inhumane and was regardless as such by the American working class as wage labor took over. The 1840’s American worker-run newsletter “the voice of industry” is just one of endless examples of staunch opposition and criticisms to wage labor
@@nevermind342 very true. One day it's probably all going to be looked at as a truely inhumane and brutal era in human history
Funny, I just commented on your Malaysia Flight 370 video that you should do this one. I actually feel pretty bad for this guy, he didn't seem malicious at all, just depressed.
You’d be right, you see how batshit crazy everyone is ?
His humor was pretty good tbh
Yeah, it actually was. I guess it just wasn't to Dr. Grande's liking.
@@briancrawford8751 well I'm sure the OCEAN traits found in someone like Dr. Grande are vastly different than someone like Sky King. Not saying it is a bad thing, just much more different. For example, I doubt Dr. Grande has a sense of humor that might have made him like "stupid humor" like Jim Carrey films, Rocko's Modern Life, or Ren & Stimpy. He seems much more serious than that. But then again, like Dr. Grande says "I'm not diagnosing anyone, just speculating" applies here.
I agree. Sky King seemed like a my kind of humor guy. I use humor for a lot of situations. Nothing is ever "too soon" either😂😂😂. I live in WA so I heard about it as it happened. Pretty amusing. You'd think if you had a vehicle worth so much, you'd lock it or take the keys out, probably both. I'm glad no one else was injured. I'm sad he was so depressed. But man he sure went out on a high note.
RIP Sky King❤
Man is a legend
I find it odd you appear to be more concerned with the loss of an aircraft than you are with a life. It's almost as if you're saying you could feel sympathy if he'd used a $5 kitchen knife.
My son tried to commit suicide many years ago. Fortunately, failed. My wife and I sought out the best Psychiatrist the Cleveland Clinic had. $250/hour out of my pocket for nothing. Psychiatrists are self serving and of no benefit IMO..
@@MrPolymers not your opinion, same as your son here. They are horrible money goblins for the most part.
@@MrPolymers have to agree, its very rare to find one who is actually able to help other than feeding you or a loved up with pills.
@@MrPolymers I think Eugene Landy is available
the guy choose to take his own life and one can be okay with that.
He didnt had the right to take that plane though and endangered the lifes of others as well.
If he had killed anyone when he crashed, he'd be remembered very differently.
yeah, but he didn’t want to
seriously, I'm baffled by all the fondness and sympathy by people in the comments, he did something fucking selfish and dangerous, it's lucky he didn't murder innocent people, I don't admire this dude at all
@Captain Hands i see your description as being like "ahhh that drunk driver, extremely intoxicated, he got to beeee freeee for a while, speeding down a street as fast as he wanted, being *liberated* from the burden of traffic safety laws designed to protect innocent people, before he slammed into a tree and killed himself." so what if he *didn't* hurt anyone, he *risked* it. I would trust an untrained random person at the controls of an airplane above a metropolitan area as much as I'd trust an intoxicated person driving through a metropolitan area. it's pretty much as dangerous and irresponsible. that monk example isn't a good one, imo, cause the monk can't hit the wrong button or read an instrument panel wrong and then quickly kill a few dozen people if he messes up his self immolation. and this whole thing is tainted by hindsight bias. as the OP said, would you be comparing him to a monk doing something only to himself if the plane guy *had* crashed and killed people??? if not, then him being lucky he didn't carelessly kill innocents is not a reason to admire him "free spiritedly" risking innocent peoples' lives for a few moments of freedom
Yeah... well.. He didn't.
@@user-zr9hu3tf1y damn, if only we asked for your input...
I'm from WA state and know about this case extensively. He crashed on purpose as he released he was running out of gas and he didnt know how to land the plane. He crashed specifically in a place where no one else would get hurt. He died in the crash. It's a really sad case and he just felt like his endless job at minimum wage and mindless life on repeat was boring and wanted something thrilling without endangering anyone else. He didnt think of the landing and acted very spontaneously. Poor kid.
So he stole an airplane! I’ve bwanted excitement and novelty to escape from a dreary life of being debilitated by my past trauma and ongoing depression. I saved my pennies and would go on roller coasters. When that wasn’t enough, I went solo skydiving. Now, I don’t mean to trivialize his situation, I’m just saying there are any ways to get an adrenaline boost, in the sky, that doesn’t endanger lives. But to think you’ll just take an airplane for a ride is a huge FU to the world and employer. His employer wasn’t the one keeping him from getting a higher paying job or career.
If you have sympathy for people who commit crimes out of desperation, you could be a great support to many incarcerated men and women Who also felt desperate, didn’t want to hurt anybody, wanted some attention, and committed a crime for those reasons.
@@Sunset553 just wow
@@Sunset553 oh karen...
Sorry, but I cant help but notice the tens of millions or other people in similar or much, much worse employment situations who _dont_ decide to steal planes to spice their lives up.
It wasn't 'spontaneous', it was pre-meditated, and he endangered lives, intentionally or otherwise, the moment he took control of that aircraft.
Clearly, he had mental issues, but perhaps if he ruminated more on he had rather than what he thought he was entitled to, he'd be moving up the chain today. I'd wager if you asked his family, they'd disagree strongly that 'nobody got hurt'.
@@geneharrogate6911 Right, so you think someone who has been a baggage handler for four years for minimum wage and has severe major depression can just will himself into a better paying job? That's really an overly optimistic way of looking at things, and the rest of your comment is extremely judgmental. Why judge someone who's dead and gone and didn't hurt you? What do you get out of it? Did he hurt or scare someone close to you? Yes, he obviously endangered people, but in the end he was the only fatality. You're acting like that plane was yours and his actions directly hurt you. Did they? I just see it as something interesting that happened.
I dunno Dr., the "sweet nothings" joke landed for me. 😉
Lol
I laughed so hard esp when he said"If I land this thing do you think they will give me a job😂"
He was 29, married with a family. He had an above avg IQ, was a college graduate, married with a family. He was in debt with no future in a down-turned eCONomy. HIs depression was not ELiminated via MENntal health EXperts aka big phARMa drug puShers$ aka 'sweet nothINgs'.. the joke is on US who beLIEve in the SYStem that dates back to the roMANs$ in the days of the pyRAMids and why the System is A pyRAmiD.... he did something verILy verILy RADical to bRING ATTention to the plight of the worKING middle clASS MAN.... from the clan of manASSes.. lol.
@@nettejohnson7492 I think you're giving him too much credit 🤔 , perhaps though...
@@Scrambledbrains3601 I'm just HIS MESSenger...
Fly high, sky king. Glorious bastard.
Yes! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
@@Adriana-eu6ty NO..😭😭😭😭
except for his family’s grief I couldn’t have said it better myself…
Yeah, it's real easy to say the person with compromised judgement should've acted in better judgement. Why he's such a sympathetic character is because even in such a compromised state, he said, "I don't want to hurt anybody." But he was the one hurting. Fly High Sky King
He may have been influenced by T.S. Eliot's stark observation of the world in his poem, 'The Hollow Men':
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
He stole the "car" of a greedy corporation that has been exploiting its workforce. I'd bet good money his co-workers were celebrating what he did.
go away
@@chosen1520He's right.
Everyone who has listened to the real audio will not be impersonal. He was a good man!
I'm late to the video but am glad to see this analysis. I was on a plane close to landing at SeaTac while Richard was in the air, so the case hits closer to home. My heart goes out to his family and I also felt sadness for him, wishing he could have survived and not gone through what he did. Listening to the audio is poignant and heartwrenching.
It's interesting to see the perspective of many in the comments, though, regarding him as an antihero or even inspiration. Hindsight allows for these views, but actually living through the uncertainty and knowing he could have killed hundreds of people with his choices provides a very different view.
I commend the professionalism of all the pilots, ground crew, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, and others who managed the situation. My plane circled out over the Cascade Mountains for safety and none of us on board knew there was danger as the pilot and flight attendants all remained calm. Only after landing and passengers began looking online for information did we found out what had just happened (after his crash). All planes had been grounded and parked against the airport as a precaution. It was an eerie sight. My plane sat on the tarmac for a long time. Our kind flight attendants came around with water for everyone. Clearing up the mess at the airport took hours. I got home quite late that night and was so happy to hug my loved one when we finally got to see each other.
Bro shut the up😂 Your life wasn’t in danger stop playing it like your a victim
If he would've landed, they woulda locked him up for life.
This is the land of the FREE after all. With the highest number of incarcerations in the entire world. Wooooo, FREEDOM !!!
Who else spits out the OCEAN acronym in sync with Dr. Grande!? 😂
Oh every time! 😂
Disappointed he didn't say OCEAN, I wanted a drink!
tina w. 🤣🤣🤣
I say the ocean part but then draw a blank on the rest.. I let him handle that part
All day everyday!!!
I'm from Washington State and vividly remember hearing about this. Something about this story is just so heartbreaking to me - hearing his voice in his last moments brings me to tears. RIP Sky King.
IMO the theft doesn’t bother people so much because it harmed a corporation, not individuals. Someone stealing 840 cars from 840 homes would harm a lot of average people. So I think there’s a difference. I do think he caused harm, but to me the plane cost is the least important part.
The cost of an insured piece of corporate equipment, plus a couple of bad jokes from a condemned man, are the good doctor's main reasons for judging this kid so harshly. This, coming from a dude who dry-shoves his terrible humor into every video he makes, usually videos on topics involving intense personal suffering and violence. Go figure.
Insurance covered it with 0 deductible
@@crashstitches79 you betray your morals… spoiled child with an equally foolish world view. Not cool.
As an aviation professional, I appreciate Dr. Grande's effort in getting all the facts of this aircrafts right. I worked with this type of aircraft before and I'm impressed with Dr. Grande's knowledge on all the names and history of this type of plane.
I had never heard of this case... when you were discussing his conversation with ATC and he referred to himself as a “broken guy”, that resonated with me and my heart goes out to him. I hope he gets another chance at a more fulfilling life 🥺💜
Wait...are you talking about Russell? He died in the crash.
Cha Cha I mean in a metaphorical sense. I believe, hope, our souls move onto better lives
@@ChaCha.44 tell us what u really feel, geez 😏
He Didnt even get the whole transcript of the dialogue ….. go look it up, he’s actually an absolute legend !!!
Where is it?
He set a bad example he glorified death he was cowardly, for taking his own life.
He did us all a disservice he gave us a bad report.
He wanted us to focus on a fatalistic approach to life.
He's a bad character.
We have a responsibility to each other as well to future generations his message is one that should be shot down. Suppose our nieces or nephews see this video and are influenced by his theme of escaping life the hard way.
Like my father use to say, "He took the easy way out".
@@susandepace7511, I agree with you. He should not be glorified as a hero. He could have killed hundreds of people. I was in a plane about to land at SeaTac when he pulled this stunt. My widowed father was waiting there to pick me up. I feel sad for this troubled man but am glad he didn't take any life but his own.
I'm from the Seattle area. The minimum wage ordinance for the City of SeaTac has a loophole where it allows a union collective-bargaining agreement to waive the minimum wage. Most/all of the baggage handlers are represented by one of these unions. There is also a loophole that allows an exemption for the actual airline employees (baggage handling is usually outsourced). So someone working at a Starbucks in the airport can make more than the baggage handlers or airline employees which doesn't seem fair to me.
.
.
All wages are minimum but some wages are more minimum than others.
@@bridgebum826 🃏
Who elects the officials of these unions? It seems to me that the membership could change that and get themselves some decent leaders?
It's remarkable how he was able to push the edge of the flight envelope and maintain control of the aircraft before his tragic decision to put it nose down and end his life. It saddens me that someone with so much potential and family and friends who loved him would not only decide to end his life but also risk the lives of others. If only he had reached out to family, friends or a MH professional. I have to credit ATC and the USAF pilot who engaged with Russ in a manner that was respectful and compassionate as they tried to encourage him to land the aircraft safely. Sadly, it appeared Russ had made the decision to end his life long before he took flight that day. To listen to the resignation but also the joy and sense of wonderment in his voice while piloting a plane on a flight he knew would be his last is truly heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing your insight and expertise with us, as always. The aviation videos are especially poignant for me.
1:30 "he had never flown a plane before"
2:00 "executed a variety of arial maneurvers, like a barrol roll"
2:05 me: wtf??
Lmao 😂😂😂 ikr?!!!
LOL
"Can the plane do a backflip?" 🤣🤣
Bro...he’s a gamer.
As he told air traffic control, he was good with a flight simulator.
if i had anything to add or think about this and why he became a "folk hero", i think its deceptively simple: him, the situation, what he did, is relatable in a way.
perhaps its not quite "hero", but "anti hero" that would be more fitting?
just my thoughts
Had I not read your comment first, I would have written something similar. I was considering suggesting "The Flying Joker" or "Loki Air."
Yeah anti-hero is the correct term here
It's similar to the Killdozer case also on this channel. The little guy rising up against "the man" after being pushed too far. No malicious intent for the innocent bystander (although arguably considerable disregard), but energies focused on revenge against those who have wronged him and made him feel disempowered.
Its because in his final struggle he truly embodied The eternal Faustian spirit. In complete revolt against the tyranny of technological automatism that has up to now governed his life. He somehow finds a way to enact a rebellion against the very form of it. And in his final moment of clarity and defiance he is free in the sky. A true modern day folk hero. RIP
he’s not a hero nor an anti-hero. just a dude who committed suicide in a more extravagant way than most
Just a guy who was zeroed out like many other men. Rest in peace Sky King
he lived freer in that monemnt many men in their whole life
Never heard that term before - zeroed out - but boy does that ever describe this incident perfectly. RIP Russell.
Fuck, that’s really sad. What do you mean exactly by zeroed out? Men seem to get such a shitty wrap these days but honestly, they are the best. The average guy is so cruised, helpful, grateful.
@@nofapSally Hey Holly, by 'Zeroed Out' I'm referring to when a man loses his will to try at life or continue on living. Many times due to his mental model of the world he believed existed or could exist not matching reality. If you followed all the rules and thought society would grant you a good life, kids and a wife perhaps, only to realize how many people, teachers, parents etc were either lying to you or were also living a lie. Some films as a reference would be Falling Down, American Beauty, Fight Club, Blue Valentine, and a lesser extent Office Space. Take care.
@@tykenny1249 Actually he was married with a wife. He just didn't feel like working towards becoming a pilot and wanted it instantly
It peeks my interest even more when you discuss cases I am familiar with, so I want to thank you for covering this particular incident. I'm always interested in how you perceive people's mental states in challenging situations but for the first time ever, am a little perplexed and find myself shaking my head at some of your conclusions/reasonings in this case.
I have watched and listened to the communications between Russell and ATC on VASAviation and found it deeply upsetting for several reasons. I watch a lot of aviation/ATC videos as I am a nervous flyer and have gained so much confidence by learning about aviation. Through watching aviation videos I am now able to fly in a reasonable mental state and for that reason I feel that I am quite knowledgeable about the aviation industry.
When I first watched the Dash 8 video my heart went out to Russell, the ATC and the pilot. Both ATC and the random pilot, who happened to be flying in the near vicinity, were brought into a frightening situation and found themselves having to speak calmly to someone who, quite obviously was intent on ending his own life. No training would have prepared them for that! Both were doing their skilled jobs when they suddenly found themselves in a nightmarish situation where they knew even a slight tone differentiation or wrong word, or change in conversation could send Russell plummeting into the ground. They knew they had the life of another human being precariously balanced in their hands!
One thing I have learned about the aviation industry is how fundamentally important it is to stay calm and informative in times of potential danger. Both ATC and the pilot achieved this in a remarkable way, by not transferring their own panic, anxiety and fear onto Russell. I absolutely applaud them and hope they are not emotionally scarred by such an horrendous incident. They must have felt so utterly helpless but remained professional, friendly and caring in equal measures.
As far as Russell is concerned, I felt that he demonstrated several behaviors and emotions. He fluctuated between excitement, anxiety, sadness, guilt, despair, panic and mania. He was on a suicide mission and was fully aware of the consequences of his actions. By speaking to the ATC it was akin to leaving a suicide note and the calm voices he heard over the radio were his pen and paper. Both the ATC and the pilot had very little time to befriend him but to a certain extent they did, the same way we might try to befriend someone who is about to throw themselves off a bridge. Deep down in their hearts they knew their words would be the last words Russell would hear - but they tried their very best to prevent it happening.
Russell's mania was evident when he spoke about attempting the barrel roll because he thought that that would be the time he died. When he completed the barrel roll, he said as much, which I found so very sad. But he was still manic. He knew he had to die. God Rest his Soul.
Sorry for rambling but this case really upset and kinda triggered me as I felt I could empathise with each of the people involved. I hope that makes sense.
"Random pilot"???? That was one of the F16 pilots sent up to blast him out of the sky if necessary. Worst thing that can happen to a passenger on an airliner thats flying is to look out the window & see F16s. They are scrambled to bring an end to a situation.
I like to hear it before sleep, so reassuring. Since it is also a different language for me (German), the topic is probably not decisive. So it really reassures me to listen to you. Thank you very much.
His jokes never fell flat for me. Love the sky king. RIP
I feel this guy, I'm living his life right now. No matter what I do it just won't pan out. Ya know when you keep taking a loss you tell yourself what's the point anymore.
I really felt for the air traffic controller. Although he’s trained to respond to crisis situations, I’m sure psychiatric emergencies were not part of the training. He handled it well, trying to turn the conversation back to safe exits from the situation. Unfortunately the “pilot” wasn’t having any of it.
I don't think he handled it well at all you don't need to be a psychiatrist to talk deep with a person and try to change his mind the air traffic control kept talking business which after a while he should have used a different approach to me.
But yeah like you said they're not trained for this.
RIP Sky King
Thank you Dr. Grande! This was a puzzling case for you to study and I think you handled it very well. Human motivation is difficult to diagnose from the outside. You made a very good attempt to go inside in the darkness of pain and the blindness of depression. Thank-you again Dr. Grande.
Dr. Grande is not in a position to speak freely, openly and honestly, because he has a profession to take care of.
Richard Russell deserves to have folk songs written about him, for the tragedy of so many human lives ground up by society but yet finding a way free.
All clear, Sky King. 💔
I think the air traffic controllers handled this superbly. They are trained to keep cool and solve problems and even though the event ended tragically, it could have been way worse. They showed compassion under duress.
I agree with you, they certainly tried. I remember when this happened and I remember hearing the audio repeatedly on the news. I admire them for his day attempted to do, trying to convince him they could talk him through it and that they would get help for him.
I think at some point they should have broken protocol when they could see it was t working t and try to humanize with him more. I bet they could have talked him back
No, they should have offered him a job as a pilot
That’s a heck of a way to deal with an existential crisis! 😳 Instead of cutting my hair short and dying it a different color, maybe I need to think bigger when my next one hits. 🤔 Fascinating video 💖
Mmm...you should cut me short and dye me a different color...like an easter egg...i--...
Aww man, quarantine has got my one liners in need of a tune up...
A J H PRODUCTIONS
Yeah that’s no way to win friends and influence people 😂
@@mcd5478 not so much concerned with influencing anyone, but I'll take you up on that friend thing...oh wait you weren't offering 🤓
try getting a sex change if you really want to piss your family off.
we need to think bigger
Hey Dr. Grande! I thought of one that might be interesting; George Carlin. Seems like he had an interesting life and profile.
Fantastic suggestion
I will say Carlin's autobiographical book "Last Words" digs very deep into his entire life and personality. What a ride.
Anyone different than the norm is not automatically sick..
In an insane society the sane man seems insane.. Socrates
it is no measures of health to be well adjusted to an insane society..J Krishnamurti
That’s a wonderful idea
The calm that came from having made a decision about his life, and the control of how it would end. I would think he'd been ruminating on this for some time, figuring out how he was going to do it. Excellent insightful analysis. I am getting hooked on this channel.
A deppressed person does not plan such acts ahead of time. It is a spir of the moment decision which depends on one's current state of mind. I know from experience. This is how the illness works. He was a good man with a potentially deadly illness which can unfortunately overide good judgement and self control, especially when not treated.
Imagine how much money the company would have saved if they just paid him decently
Honestly they probably made a profit from this. Insurance payout was $30 million with no deductibles.... so. They do have some payouts for cleanup and the cleanup. But still, I'm sure they had other insurance policies.
Wrong, if you're unhappy with your wages find a new job and or gain some new skills you just need to put the work in.
I went from my first job 3.35/ hr
To eventually making 80k/ yr
Some of my jobs along the way were crap fast food jobs etc.. low paying retail jobs..
@@MichaelColeman2 Okay boomer
@@TheZalor The problem with boomer types is thinking that the economics of life is similar and unchanged from the time they'd grown into society.
I'm also sure he never worked at an airport before. People are treated like cattle these days. Now you can't even assert self-worth without being demeaned because it's assumed you're being egotistical.
@@MichaelColeman2 but you didnt effect the world as much as the Sky King
Thanks Dr. Grande! I admire the time and dedication you put on your videos.
The airplane was fully covered by the airline insurance. He was kind, calm and funny. He also didn’t hurt anyone else- that’s a HUGE PART. If anyone had gotten hurt or died besides himself then that would have been a completely different story.
Also the skill! A barrel roll with that type of plane and no experience? He is, indeed the “sky king.”
The company has an annual revenue off 850$ million. Besides, insurance companies fuck over so many small people, so not much sympathy for them either.
Fly high, Skyking! ✈️
I think he had bipolar disorder and was in the midst of a manic episode. Had been suicidal for a long time (many of us are) which had planted the seed and during a manic episode, became impulsive and feeling invincible (again, something we all experience). It takes a lot of confidence to do what he did and pull it off. He also said he didn't realize how unwell he was until that moment, again something a lot of us experience.
He actually was tripolar
Agreed. Maybe a hypomanic episode.
I was charged $100 an hour for a therapist to tell me to sign up for a Yoga class after a really difficult divorce. Yeah, thanks a lot.
I don't know about anyone else, but Sky King made me genuinely laugh.
He made me laugh and almost cry. What an absolute legend. Boy did he go out like a boss. Just wish he didnt do this tho and lived a good happy life. I pray for this legend
Oh, copy that ;)
Sky King and Killdozer are hanging out together in the afterlife.
It's a bit unfair and unrealistic to say he had a negative financial impact on many people when it was, at most, a handful of high paid executives or an insurance company or two. You're acting like the FBI show up to investigate scenes with credit card readers on each of their persons on that $21m immediately equates to 21 million people. The efforts put forward because of his actions were paid for through their normal methods and most likely only Horizon or their insurance backing took the financial toll of the plane wereas the rest was handled by the military or anything else already tax funded consistently.
Straight up
Yeah, whose salaries is he really affecting?. The only reason that I can see this affecting the common man is the executives firing people to compensate.
He would have to work for 200 years to pay for an aircraft that his bosses just had lying around. And somehow the doc finds it strange that most people sympathize with him and hail him a hero??
I love your videos and how you explain real life situations so very well. This is awesome work and effort too. ♡ Thanks so very much !!
Thank you so much, Dr. Grande! I really appreciate how you cover such a wide variety of situations and cases. This one is truly unique. I was just thinking about how people do things without considering whom they affect: even a person who "just" steals a car 🚗 both inconveniences and potentially causes harm to the car owner or someone the owner is responsible for. I am sorry for his depression and difficulty with challenges, though. Thank you for sharing your awesome ❤ and 🧠 with us! 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️
I knew Richard Russel (he went by the first name Beebo) and his wife Hannah. They went to the same church as I. My husband frequently visited his bakery to buy a donut. It was an excellent little bakery run by both Richard and Hannah. They were a cute, seemingly happy young couple. When this event took place no one was more shocked than his friends at our church. My heart broke for Hannah and their family. Richard was quiet, pleasant (I would call his agreeableness high), and seemed to have a lovely marriage to a very pretty and personable young woman. I worry about Hannah. I doubt if even she saw this tragedy coming. She seems to have disappeared and cut off contact with others since this event. Who knows? Maybe they were having marital problems and kept it a secret from others. Any infidelity issues would have been condemned by the Christian church Thank you, Dr. Grande, for your insights.
His family said the same thing. They had no idea he had any trouble. The marriage was good and he never appeared to be depressed or unhappy. They were just as shocked.
I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that he caught his wife cheating on him with a black guy😬
@@Jukelikesgames Didn't happen.
Hannah is doing well if you haven't heard an update lately. I don't want to give any details on this type of forum.
@@Jukelikesgames X to doubt.
He got discriminated against because there were "too many white pilots" So he didn't get into pilot school. Which was his dream then he went back to putting luggage on planes. A story from his friend.
Not surprised.
sounds about right
Yup, definitely sounds about right.
And so then he killed himself in glorious fashion as a result? "Yup, sounds about right!"👍🏽
When all else fails, play the victim ...smh.
FLY HIGH SKY KING!!!!!! YOU WILL FLY FOREVER LEGEND!!!!!!
Here here......
15:50 “a less glamorous course of action would be to seek mental health counseling”.
Yep, on a second tier minimum wage 😂
Washington State has affordable care for anyone below a certain income threshhold and it also provides for mental health services. It's a big deal in Washington because lots of people in Washington get seasonal depression when the rain rolls around in the fall and winter. Though, I must say, almost everyone I've talked to who's used it seems to have come out of it worse off rather than better. Mental health services in the US seems like a joke.
Thank you so much as always Dr. Grande
Your comment about thrill seekers and explorers having so few true adventures left rings very true. One also cannot see the world without large quantities of money.
Thank you for your analysis of this situation. His death was sad, but obviously planned. Perhaps, in some ways, potential future mental health cases will be affected positively by these previous crises, meaning MH counselors and professionals can better help their clients and clients can get the help they need.
Counselors need to be affordable as well
He didn't go up there to die, he went up there to finally live.
It's interesting that he was so lucid during the conversations. No evidence that he was suffering from a loss of touch with reality/psychotic break. I'm not sure the big 5 can really get to the heart of what happened here, but its a good effort on your part with such a weird case.
Another video from Dr Grande - another opportunity to discover and learn something new. Thank you Dr! 🙏💛👍💛
Agree..ALWAYS!
I forgive him... fly on rocket man✊
Rest in peace sky king hope he’s at peace wherever he is modernity is poison.
Depression has been over-diagnosed and even scapegoated for far too long as the main underlying cause of all problems in one's life. He was chronically underemployed, mis-employed, and lowly paid. He was oppressed, not depressed, and he became desperate with his lowly station in life and his powerlessness to improve it. If he really had been depressed, then it was not a true sickness as if his brain had not been pumping out enough serotonin because his life circumstances and his powerlessness over them were frustrating his fulfillment in life and caused him to lose hope. If he had been well employed and well paid, he would have been more hopeful, and this tragic spectacle would have never happened.
Good diagnosis doctor
That's his fault. He could have gone to a trade school. Maybe take some civil service tests. He took the easy way out.
@@Kgio-2112 what a looser
spot on.
Thank you for thinking the same way as me about Rich. I tried to say the same thing in another video, but it wasn't understood by anybody. I agree, the thing you said about depression.
I'd pay good money to see Dr. Grande actually interview some of these people.
Confidentiality would be a problem.
@@macmedic892 we'll see that's why I'm paying though, for the zero confidentiality
Are you on Patreon?
@@sherunswithscissors nope
YESSS me TOO
Omg...been hoping for this one.Poor guy rest in peace.
Me too, thanks Dr. Grande.
He died for laborers
Poor all the people that have to pay higher ticket prices, because of this man’s irresponsibility. ☹️
Thank you Dr. Grande
The 'sky pilot'from the Animals
6:48 McChord AFB is an Airforce base, my understanding is that he doesn't want to land there and possibly be physically threatened and harmed by servicemen with weapons. The anti aircraft reference is because it is most likely implied by Richard that an Airforce base would have some form of defence from attack, I don't think he was trying to be funny in his sentencing but presenting an argument as why it would of not been a good idea to land there - in his state of mind.
Did a barrel roll into the OCEAN.
As an airline pilot I have to admit some grudging admiration for the fact that he not only managed to takeoff and stay aloft but pulled off some pretty awesome aerobatics in an airplane not designed for it. But he could just as easily have killed hundreds of people on the ground...
Great analysis as always Dr!
Poor air traffic controller guy. I don’t find Russel to be a villainous figure at all - to be honest, it means nothing to me that he cost a big company some profits. But I do feel bad for that ATC. He had to listen to someone die and plead with him fruitlessly to change his mind. That’s a lot of mental weight to take on; the guy didn’t come to work at the suicide prevention hotline.
ATC did his job SUPERBLY though. I don’t understand the criticism from some that he was too calm. It’s literally his job to respond calmly to emergencies on aircraft and calmly, clearly communicate with the pilot on what to do next and which heading to take to the nearest safe downspot. Man did amazing.
I like that you keep it all in perspective; what he did was truly dangerous and could easily have resulted in absolute disaster and loss of innocent lives. The fact that it turned out how it did is extremely fortuitous.
Thank you so much for this analysis, Dr. Grande. It was really helpful!
Looking forward to Grande’s analysis. Very interesting.
When I was in my twenties I worked in a photo lab in a mall. A lot of work and little pay. I used to drink a lot, but I always had a calm behavior. One day when my manager entered the lab to talk a little I randomly said I was drinking too much. "I drink whiskey every day here, before work, during breaks, at lunch time, and dinner." He said, "No no [my name], you don't look like this kind of guy." And left. I was quite bad back then, and drinking too much. I'm past decades from that and am well, don't drink and stuff, but I never forgot how overlooked I was.
Richard agreed with you Doctor. He said early on in one of his transmissions when asked what were his intentions by ground control he responded "I've done a selfish thing...". So it is true he did a selfish and dangerous thing, but I still feel sympathy for him and I respect the fact that he did his utmost to ensure that no one was hurt other than himself. As far as the plane goes, and that it would have taken him over 200 years to replace it - Good for you Beeboo! As a pilot with terminal cancer, I wish I could have been there with you.
As always a great analysis.
Thanks for putting the video up.
I’d never heard of this incident before. I can’t help but have total sympathy for him. It’s a very appealing story.
If you look up sky king you’ll find some documentaries
Yeah, I feel like he achieved that freedom he seeked for those brief moments. It’s wrong in all the right ways. Looking at humanity above and beyond money and materialism, the guy did some dangerous things, but objective was never hurting anyone. I feel for his family and to me SkyKing is a legend, just like Alexander Supertramp in the movie «into the wild». Where the goal is to break free from rules and live truly free from anything, just that Rich’s persons mental health is way worse off than Supertramps.
Great stories with a pinch of dry humor. I like this.
Dr. Grande I would be very interested to hear about the Kim Wall / Peter Madsen case. .. crazy shit...
Insane detailed analysist. I got way more than I got watching all the other videos combined and more. I didn't even have to think but I think watching what happened with what people uploaded with Richard talking then you talking made it fully complete. If we can only have AI in the future be as good as you the world could be interesting. That was exactly it, people feeling a weight has been lifted when they felt the end was near as they didn't have to worry about the maintaining their, from how they see it, unhappy future. Your analysist made complete sense as it touched on probably every single part possible. College degree, minimum wage, injustice, brain damage from the fumes, ending his life doing something spectacular in which he would be remembered by many, etc.
In Orlando there was a young kid who kept stealing the busses. He wanted to be a bus driver when he grew up.
this made me cry because I can put myself in Russell's mindset. He did what he wanted to do....and that's it
Not many people are able or willing to do such because it makes them uncomfortable. That's why we now have this society hell bent on offensive talk and gossip.
The comments on this story are so eloquent. I understand why people connect with him. (I hope you’re doing well now, poster.)
Now I need “there’s no quick fix to an existential crisis” merch!!!
Nice LOL
I love it!!
Great video Dr. Grande!!! Fascinating case!!! Thank you for the closer look at it!!!
I check the like icon first then I watch the video because I always end up enjoying all Dr Grandes videos.
This case is especially heartbreaking for me because not only did I live in the Seattle area for 2 years and was also screwed over by the deliberately misleading minimum wage laws there, but also because I’m now a comedian who’s struggled with severe depression for a very long time. I’m able to empathize with him to an unusual and unsettling degree, and understand the kind of pain he must have been in, and his attempts at making light of one’s own inner turmoil. I know that when I was suicidal, the one thing that bothered me the most was knowing how sad my friends and family would be if I died, even though at the time I genuinely believed that to be a good thing; a release from the incredible pain that I had been in for so long. Like shooting an mortally wounded animal to end their suffering.
It’s both fascinating and disturbing to realize just how many comedians and funny people in general are quietly struggling behind closed doors. There’s a very real trend there, which personally I think is rooted in sympathy for others. I love making people laugh, and knowing that for a few minutes, their shitty day was brightened. Kind of like in war movies where the one beloved buddy dies, but insists that everyone stays positive by joking around or making up some cheesy fantasy narrative to play along to. They don’t want to spend their last moments knowing how much pain their imminent death is going to cause for their friends. Is that really selfish? Or is it just asking for mercy?
I'm a private pilot Doc and I have to say this was a staggeringly dangerous stunt from a public safety standpoint and from the standpoint of a pilot; onerous. As for the demeanor of ATC they are paid to bloody remain calm. Imagine chatting with ATC in a critical situation and the controller is losing their nerve amd exuding panic. Not good is an understatement. Great content as always Doc. It's old but hey... What's the acronym for the 5 factor model again? 😉
I though the same thing. What did Grande want ATC to do? Apparently become hysterical and call a social worker to counsel him to the ground whilst he put thousands of lives in jeapordy on the ground? I couldn't believe it when I heard those words come out of Grande's mouth.
No ace.
@@lanaj1107 LOL. Agreed.
One just never knows what is going on with someone else. Inside of someone else's mind/life. Amazing video and great info/analysis as usual! 👍😀
In my view he was genuinely frustrated because he wants to earn more money which could give him a better life. He was upgrading himself in a hope that he will land up with a better job which could pay him better. I think turning point could be when he was not getting a better job or atleast the minimum wage that his job deserve. Loosing all hope and revenge in mind could have lead to this situation.