Tag: beebo

IMDB rating: 7.4

Streaming on Hulu

So, here’s what happened in 2018 at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Twenty-eight-year-old Richard “Beebo” Russell steals an empty commercial plane while he’s on duty as an airport ground worker for Horizon Air (a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group).

You’ll see security footage of him climbing onto the plane while it’s moving and pulling the door closed behind him. And then you hear air traffic control calmly freaking out because nobody’s supposed to be on that Bombardier Q400 turboprop. What unfolds next is the 70 white-knuckle minutes captured on the cockpit audio between Beebo and the air traffic controller.

An interaction where Beebo sounds nonchalant and even jokes around plays for a few minutes. The next scene shows the pain and disbelief washing over the faces of Beebo’s family and friends as they listen to the recording—some of them for the first time.

It is heart-wrenching to watch Beebo’s loved ones—people who knew what he was about—look stunned one moment, laugh the next, and say, ” Yeah, that’s typical Beebo,” and look completely wrecked a few moments later.

Not long into the documentary, you understand their devastation.

What it’s really about

For me, “Sky King” is less about the feat of stealing a commercial plane by a non-pilot and more about what led up to such a desperate act. Beebo was that boy in high school who managed to be the class clown, an all-around athlete, homecoming king, and walked his faith. He looked and sounded like the all-American boy next door with a paper route (when they had those) and who would offer to mow your lawn.

I don’t know why, but I was surprised to learn that Beebo was married. It looked like the relationship was at a soulmate level. This guy even interrupted his college studies to help his wife realize her dream of owning and running a bakery. The doc hints at the business not being financially sustainable, and how his in-laws wanted them to move to Seattle to be closer. It was clear to Beebo that he needed to do better to support their daughter. It’s also clear that he doesn’t come from a connected, well-to-do family that can open some doors, introduce him to the right people.

Not even minimum wage

Still, Beebo was determined to meet those expectations. He was set on advancing to management at Horizon Air. His boss told him that he needed to finish his education to even be considered for a promotion. While he was doing that, Beebo maintained an upbeat attitude, even though he was paid less than minimum wage. Can you imagine that? I didn’t even think that was legal. Despite that, he did all the things—training new employees, talking up the company, and staying away from drama. A coworker said that Beebo separated himself from the group gathered around a table at lunch, and sat in a corner reading a book while they joked and grumbled and ate. When that same coworker quit and went to a better job, he asked the Beebo to join him. Beebo declined, believing it was just a matter of time before he was promoted.

Degree in hand and having finally jumped through all the hoops, Beebo approached his manager, who said, “Sorry (not sorry), we just promoted somebody else.” We later learn that friends and family conjecture that management considered Beebo “white trash,” not someone they’d ever promote.

In the cockpit

As the doc moves along, you’re getting to know Beebo at a very intimate level, starting from childhood. Your understanding of who he is deepens as the cockpit audio advances.

It is ridiculous how likable Beebo is. I guarantee you know somebody just like him. His frequent bouts of vomiting and comments about not hurting anybody show you that he may have had a really bad lapse in judgment, but that he is a good person through and through. In turns, Beebo jokes, he’s curious (to the point of asking the air traffic controller how he got his job), he’s paranoid, he’s elated, he’s polite, and he’s worried about the people who love him.

It’s only until he is in the cockpit that he realizes he’s a broken man.

The real question

What external and internal forces led such a good guy to do this?

I think that he was of sound mind in the sense that he knew exactly what he was doing and the consequences of his actions.

Maybe it was the only way that he could clearly and loudly send a message to the world about how he was wronged without going to work and shooting everybody up.

And even if we had all the answers, would anybody do anything meaningful to ensure that never happens again, short of increased security?

What I haven’t talked about

I’ve tried to be careful to not give away the ending. But I will tell you that it’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It left me shattered and in awe at the same time. You’ll see, or you’ll know why.

I haven’t talked about the internet memes or interpreting what he said about being Black or his marriage.

I’d love to hear about what you think, though, and address those things and anything else that way.