Discover the True Story Behind ‘#SKYKING’: The Man Who Took a Commercial Plane for a Final Adventure

LOS ANGELES — The incredible tale that captivated the nation in 2018 has now been transformed into a documentary titled “#SKYKING.”

Back on August 10, 2018, 28-year-old Richard “Beebo” Russell, an airport employee, shocked the world by commandeering a $33 million plane from SeaTac airport. Russell executed daring stunts, including a barrel roll, during the flight, fully aware it would be a one-way trip as he ultimately crashed the aircraft into Ketron Island on Puget Sound.

“#SKYKING,” produced by ABC News Studios, delves into the harrowing 70-minute flight. The documentary is enriched with exclusive interviews from Russell’s family and friends, and it includes the compelling exchanges between Russell and air traffic controllers.

At the premiere of “#SKYKING,” director Patricia E. Gillespie shared insights with On The Red Carpet about the deeper significance of Russell’s last flight.

“His journey came to symbolize the aspirations and struggles of the American working class,” she explained.

Gillespie says of the never-before-heard air traffic control audio, “When you hear these recordings, you can’t help but, even thought the situation is very intense and dangerous and frightening, you can’t help but to root for this guy, and in rooting for him, people learn to root for themselves.”

Russell’s brother, Danny said, “I knew from the get go if we didn’t tell anyone who he was that the narrative would kind of go its own direction. And with that, it kind of did. So it’s nice to kind of set the story straight.”

We asked Danny to describe his brother, and his face lit up. “A stud. A clown. A guy that walked the walk. That’s the best way to describe him. Is he, he walked the walk. Never took the easy route. And, he was definitely, even though he was younger, he was definitely… I looked up to him in a lot of ways.”

Phil, his other brother, hopes audiences “know that it’s okay to talk about how you’re feeling in life and to express, you know, everything that’s going on in your life. You know, that there’s people out there that love and care about you.”

Danny echoed the same sentiment. “Peel back all the BS from the day-to-day. We all live the same kind of lives, the same kind of struggles. And more of us can kind of relate to each other than we realize.”

“#SKYKING” premieres April 14 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC News Studios, Hulu, Disney+ and this ABC station.