Director to All Offices except Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas re UNSUB, NWA Flight 305

0-9 (Rev. 5-22-64)

FBI

Date: November 29, 1971

Transmit the following in _____________ (Type in plaintext or code)

Via Airtel __________________________ (Priority)

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To: All Offices Except Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas

From: Director, FBI (164-2111) NORTHWEST 164-91* [signature/initials] UNSUB; NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT 305, 11/24/71 CAA - HIJACKING OO: SEATTLE

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Enclosed for each receiving office are two copies of an artist's conception of captioned unsub.

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) 11/24/71, a lone white male traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, on captioned flight displayed the contents of his brief case to a stewardess indicating to her it was a bomb which would be exploded unless his demands were met. The hijacker indicated his willingness to exchange the safety of the 36 passen- gers and crew for $200,000 in cash and four parachutes. He instructed that the plane circle the Seattle airport until his demands were met at which time the plane landed. Once the money and parachutes were loaded and the plane was being refueled, the hijacker allowed the passengers and two airline stewardesses to deplane leaving a flight crew of three males and one female and the hijacker aboard. The hijacker indicated a desire to fly to Mexico City and instructed the plane to take off flying at a low altitude and slow speed, maintaining a southerly direction. Upon demand the hijacker was instructed on lowering the rear passenger door while the aircraft was in flight. He was last seen in the aircraft by crew members at 8:05 p.m. PST, when he instructed

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Enclosures (2) [signature/initials]

164-91-8

[stamp: partially illegible — appears to read CLEARED / INDICES / SERIAL [illegible] / DEC 2 1971 / [illegible]]

b6 b7C

Sent Via __________________ M Pe[r] __________________

DB Cooper-20

[redacted/illegible circular stamps]

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Airtel to All Offices Except Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas RE: UNSUB; NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT 305

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the hostage stewardess to go forward to the first class section and close the curtains behind her. Stewardess complied, going through first class section into pilot's cockpit and locking door behind her. Prior to departing from passenger cabin, hijacker told stewardess the money bag was not in accordance with instructions and to cut up one of the parachutes to rewrap the money, which was done. When the aircraft landed at Reno, Nevada, for refueling, the hijacker, two parachutes, the ransom money, and the vinyl brief case had disappeared.

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Investigation determined that the hijacker had purchased his ticket at the Portland Airport shortly before the plane's departure. Upon arrival at Seattle, all passengers were accounted for except a white male using the name Dan Cooper. There were no sky marshals aboard this flight and at no time did subject show any firearms.

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From information available, the subject is described as white male, mid 40's, 5'10" to 6', 170 to 180 pounds, average to well built, olive or swarthy complexion, medium smooth, dark brown or black hair parted on left side, combed back, sideburns to low ear level, dark eyes, probably black or brown. Subject wore a dark suit, white shirt, with narrow black tie. He wore dark glasses with plastic rims (possibly prescription lenses) most of the time. He had dark overcoat and was described as cool and calculating. His voice was low. He spoke intelligently and was a heavy smoker of Raleigh filter tip cigarettes.

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All leads should be handled immediately and set out tele- phonically and confirmed by teletype. The Bureau must be kept advised of all pertinent developments as they occur. A list of the loot is being prepared and will be disseminated. Consider subject dangerous.