Las Vegas to Director, Portland and Seattle re arrival of hijacked NWA Flight 305 at Reno and crew interviews
This copy: Part 10 pp. 345–353Also filed at Part 10 pp. 336–344 (primary)
This copy’s own title
Las Vegas to Director, Portland and Seattle re arrival of hijacked NWA Flight 305 at Reno (file copy)
Document date 25 November 1971
Another copy of this document is the primary, most legible copy: Part 10 pp. 336–344.
Copies may differ in what was redacted.
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Id: Cooper-Part-10:345-353
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-10:345-353 Document: Teletype Las Vegas to Director, Portland and Seattle re arrival of hijacked NWA Flight 305 at Reno (file copy) Id: Cooper-Part-10:345-353 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-10%3A345-353 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
A person reads every report. Corrections are made by hand, to the data — titles, dates, names, which pages belong together — never to the scans, and they can take a while to appear.
FBI 164-81, Vault Part 10 pp. 345–353 (DB Cooper-1572–1580), Teletype, dated 25 Nov 1971 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-10%3A345-353
ANR 005 LV PLAIN 7:25 AM URGENT 11/25/71 MJH TO DIRECTOR PORTLAND SEATTLE FROM LAS VEGAS (164-60)
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UNSUB; HIJACKING OF NORTHWESTERN AIRLINES SEVEN TWENTY SEVEN, FLIGHT THREE ZERO FIVE, NOVEMBER TWENTY FOUR SEVENTY ONE, PORTLAND, OREGON. CAA - HIJACKING.
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11;01 P.M.
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CAPTIONED FLIGHT ARRIVED RENO, NEVADA, ELEVEN ZERO ONE PM PST, NOVEMBER TWENTY FOUR SEVENTY ONE. NORTHWESTERN AIRLINE OFFICIALS FROM MINNEAPOLIS HAD PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED THAT PLANE BE ALLOWED TO LAND WITH NO POLICE OFFICIALS OR POLICE TYPE VEHICLES IN VICINITY. NORTHWESTERN ALSO REQUESTED UNITED AIRLINES, RENO, NEVADA, HANDLE ALL REFUELING AND STATION FUNCTIONS. CAPT. OF FLIGHT RADIOED REQUEST PRIOR TO LANDING THAT PLANE BE APPROACHED ONLY WHEN REQUESTED BY UNMARKED CAR OCCUPIED BY UNITED AIRLINE OFFICAL AND ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL. SAC LAS VEGAS WITH UNITED AIRLINE OFFICAL. FUEL TRUCKS ON STANDBY TO LOAD APPROX. FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND LBS. FUEL. PILOT FURTHER INDICATED WOULD LAND WITH REAR DOOR OPEN AND STAIRS DOWN SINCE HIJACKER INSISTED FROM TIME OF TAKE OFF IN SEATTLE THAT PLANE FLY IN THIS MANNER. PILOT ADVISED END PAGE ONE
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164-81-[illegible] SEARCHED......INDEXED...... SERIALIZED......FILED...... NOV 24 1971 FBI - SEATTLE
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DB Cooper-1572
LV 164-60 PAGE TWO
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IMMEDIATELY BEFORE LANDING THAT NO OBSERVATION OR CONTACT HAD IN SOME TIME AND HIJACKER WAS ALONE IN BACK OF PASSENGER SECTION WHEN LAST OBSERVED AT APPROX. EIGHT ZERO FIVE PM. CREW CONSISTED OF THREE MALES AND ONE HOSTESS.
PLANE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TAXIED TO APPROX. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YARDS FROM TERMINAL. ENTIRE PERIMETER OF AIR STRIP PREVIOUSLY SURROUNDED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, (INCLUDING DOG TEAMS) AND FBI AND PLANE UNDER OBSERVATION FROM TOWER WITH BINOCULARS TO INSURE HIJACKER DID NOT DEPART PLANE DURING LANDING OR TAXIING PHASE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH REQUEST OF CAPT. NO ENTRY WAS MADE TO AIRCRAFT UNTIL CREW DETERMINED WHETHER HIJACKER WAS STILL ABOARD. WHEN CAPT. ADVISED HIJACKER NOT ABOARD, FBI AGENTS BOARDED AIRCRAFT. CREW INDICATED THEY HAD MADE CURSORY SEARCH AND HAD FOUND NO EXPLOSIVES, HOWEVER AN IMMEDIATE SEARCH OF THE PLANE WAS MADE BY BUREAU AGENTS FOR EXPLOSIVES AND ANY POTENTIAL EVIDENCE. NO EXPLOSIVES WERE FOUND AND ALL AREAS OCCUPIED BY THE HIJACKER WERE PROCESSED FOR FINGERPRINTS. END PAGE TWO
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DB Cooper-1573
LV 164-60 PAGE THREE
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CAPT. ACCEDED TO FULL INTERVIEW OF ENTIRE CREW AS SOON AS HE HAD TELEPHONICALLY CONTACTED NORTHWEST AIRLINES HEADQUARTERS IN MINNEAPOLIS. THIS IN ACCORD WITH PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS. CREW ESCORTED BY BUAGENTS TO BRIEFING ROOM AT AIRPORT WHERE CONTACT MADE WITH NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS AND INTERVIEWS IMMEDIATELY COMMENCED.
CREW ADVISED HOSTESS [REDACTED] (WHO DEPLANED AT SEATTLE) FURNISHED ORIGINAL NOTE BY HIJACKER INDICATING HE WAS HIJACKING THE PLANE AND SHE SHOULD SIT NEXT TO HIM SINCE HE HAD A BOMB. [REDACTED] COMMUNICATED WITH HOSTESS [REDACTED] [REDACTED] WHO COMMUNICATED WITH THE COCKPIT TO EFFECT PLANE BEING HIJACKED. FOLLOWING INITIAL CONTACT WITH [REDACTED] HOSTESS [REDACTED] WAS IN CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH THE HIJACKER THEREAFTER AND ALL MESSAGES FROM THE HIJACKER WERE RELAYED TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CREW BY HER. HIJACKER INDICATED HE WAS DEADLY SERIOUS. HE CARRIED A BLACK ATTACHE TYPE CASE IN WHICH [REDACTED] OBSERVED UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS APPROX. END PAGE THREE
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DB Cooper-1574
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b6 b7C
LV 164-60 PAGE FOUR
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EIGHT ITEMS WHICH APPEARED TO BE DYNAMITE STICKS, BOTH COVERED AND UNCOVERED WIRE AND A DC BATTERY. NOTE WAS WRITTEN ON APPROX. SIX INCH BY NINE INCH PLAIN PAPER WITH FELT TYPE PEN AND HIJACKER INSISTED UPON RETURN OF SAME. SECOND NOTE FROM HIJACKER, ON STANDARD ENVELOPE, INDICATED HE WANTED, UPON LANDING AT SEATTLE, TO BE FURNISHED WITH FOUR PARACHUTES, INCLUDING TWO BACK PACKS AND TWO CHEST PACKS, ALONG WITH TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH IN CERTAIN DENOMINATIONS. DENOMINATIONS UNRECALLED AND NOTE STATED HE WANTED ABOVE ITEMS "BY FIVE O CLOCK". HOSTESS [REDACTED] SAT WITH HIJACKER DURING ENTIRE REMAINDER OF FLIGHT TO SEATTLE AND RELAYED REPEATED STATEMENTS FROM HIJACKER THAT ITEMS HE REQUESTED MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT BEFORE PLANE LANDED.
THE HIJACKER COMMENTED TO THE HOSTESS THAT THE BOMB HE [ha]D WAS ELECTRICALLY FUSED AND SHE SHOULD WARN THE CREW THAT [el]ECTRICAL SIGNALS MIGHT DETONATE THE BOMB. IN RESPONSE [re]RELAYED MESSAGES TO THE CREW THEY CONTINUOUSLY PROFESSED [com]PLETE COOPERATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE [hija]CKER. THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT ADVISED OF THE HIJACKING [prio]R TO LANDING AT SEATTLE.
[pa]GE FOUR
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b6 b7C
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DB Cooper-1575
LV 164-60 PAGE FIVE
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THE PLANE LANDED AT SEATTLE AT FIVE FORTY FIVE PM, PST, AND AFTER PARKING IN THE DESIGNATED AREA THE ENGINES WERE SHUT DOWN. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HIJACKERS INSTRUCTION THE CAPT. ADVISED THE PASSENGERS OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND INSTRUCTED ALL TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PRIOR TO LANDING THE CAPT. STATES HE CIRCLED THE AIRPORT FOR APPROX. ONE AND ONE HALF HOURS AWAITING ARRIVAL OF THE ITEMS REQUESTED BY THE HIJACKER.
THE HIJACKER SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED THAT ALL PASSENGERS STAY ON BOARD UNTIL HE RECEIVED THE MONEY AND AND UNTIL THE FUEL TRUCKS HAD COMMENCED FUELING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE HIJACKER HOSTESS [REDACTED] LEFT THE PLANE AND OBTAINED THE MONEY BAG CONTAINING TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. SHE RETURNED TO THE PLANE WITH THE MONEY AND AFTER DELIVERING IT TO THE HIJACKER HE INSPECTED SAME AND THEN TOLD THE HOSTESS TO ALLOW THE PASSENGERS TO DEPLANE. HOSTESS [REDACTED] MADE THREE MORE TRIPS TO BRING FOUR BRIGHT ORANGE PARACHUTES END PAGE FIVE
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b6 b7C
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DB Cooper-1576
LV 164-60 PAGE SIX
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TO THE HIJACKER.
FOLLOWING DEPARTURE OF PASSENGERS, HIJACKER ALLOWED TWO HOSTESSES TO DEPLANE, BUT INSTRUCTED THAT HOSTESS [REDACTED] REMAIN ON BOARD SO SHE COULD OPERATE THE REAR DOOR FOR HIM WHILE IN FLIGHT. PREVIOUSLY THE HIJACKER INSTRUCTED THAT THE REAR DOOR WAS TO REMAIN OPEN AND STAIRS DOWN DURING TAKEOFF WHEN HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT MECHANICALLY POSSIBLE HE ACCEDED TO DOOR BEING CLOSED AND STAIRS ELEVATED UNTIL PLANE AIRBORNE.
HIJACKER INDICATED PLANE WOULD NOT GO TO HAVANA, CUBA, BUT WOULD GO TO MEXICO CITY. HE ALSO INSISTED THAT PLANE BE FLOWN WITH LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS DOWN AND ALL CABIN LIGHTS OUT. ALSO INSTRUCTED THAT CREW SHOULD NOT FLY OVER TEN THOUSAND FEET ALTITUDE AND SHOULD NOT LAND IN U.S. FOR ANY REASON. HOSTESS AND CREW STATED HIJACKER OBVIOUSLY AQUAINTED WITH SEVEN TWENTY SEVEN TYPE AIRCRAFT AND HAD GOOD BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF FLYING PRINCIPLES.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKE OFF AT SEVEN THIRTY SIX PM, PST, HIJACKER INSTRUCTED HOSTESS TO SHOW HIM HOW TO OPEN REAR DOOR AND DEPRESS STAIRS. HE THEN TOLD HOSTESS TO GO FORWARD TO THE FIRST END PAGE SIX
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b6 b7C
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DB Cooper-1577
LV 164-60 PAGE SEVEN
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CLASS SECTION AND CLOSE CURTAINS BEHIND HER. HOSTESS COMPLIED GOING THROUGH FIRST CLASS SECTION INTO PILOT COCKPIT AND LOCKING DOOR BEHIND HER. PRIOR TO HOSTESS DEPARTING FROM PASSENGER CABIN, HIJACKER TOLD HER MONEY BAG WAS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND TO CUT UP ONE OF THE PARACHUTES TO REWRAP THE MONEY.
WHILE HIJACKER WAS IN CABIN, CREW WAS IN COMMUNICATION WITH HIJACKER VIA INTERCOM IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN CREW TOLD HIJACKER NON-STOP TO MEXICO CITY IN MEXICO WAS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO RANGE OF FUEL, HIJACKER SUGGESTED STOP AT PHOENIX. WHEN TOLD PHOENIX FLIGHT TOO LONG, HE SUGGESTED YUMA, ARIZ. AND THEN INDICATED PREFERENCE FOR RENO, NEVADA.
LAST COMMUNICATION IN CABIN AND HIJACKER IN PASSENGER VIA INTERCOM EIGHT ZERO FIVE PM, PST. CALLS THEREAFTER UNANSWERED. SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT TEN MINUTES AND PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT PORTLAND CREW EXPERIENCED "OSCILATION" WHICH THEY SPECULATED AT THE TIME AND CONFIRMED DURING INTERVIEW WAS PROBABLY OCCASIONED END PAGE SEVEN
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DB Cooper-1578
LV 164-60 PAGE EIGHT
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BY HIJACKER DEPARTING FROM AIRCRAFT VIA REAR DOOR. OSCILATION REPORTED BY RADIO TO NORTHWEST HEADQUARTERS MINNEAPOLIS AT TIME.
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IN SUMMARY, CREW DESCRIBED HIJACKING AS OBVIOUSLY WELL PLANNED BY INDIVIDUAL KNOWLEDGEABLE RE THIS AIRCRAFT AND FLYING GENERALLY AND BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS AT ALL TIMES COOL AND CALCULATING. ALSO SPECULATED SUBJECT WELL AQUAINTED WITH SEATTLE -- PORTLAND AREA GENERALLY, AND PROBABLY PARACHUTED FROM PLANE EITHER WITHIN OR IN PROXIMITY OF PORTLAND OREGON. PRIOR TO LEAVING PLANE HIJACKER TOLD CREW HE WOULD EITHER TAKE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WITH HIM OR WOULD DISARM SAME.
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PRESS INQUIRY IN RENO AND LAS VEGAS ANSWERED TO EFFECT THAT HIJACKER DEPARTED PLANE PROBABLY BY REAR DOOR AND BY PARACHUTE SOME- WHERE BETWEEN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON AND PORTLAND, OREGON. PRESS INFORMED FBI CONDUCTING INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY AND APPREHEND
HIJACKER. END PAGE EIGHT
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DB Cooper-1579
PAGE NINE . LV 164-60
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CAPT. ADVISED THAT PLANE WOULD DEPART RENO, NEVADA NINE FORTY FIVE AM FOR SEATTLE AND ALL BAGGAGE WOULD BE UNLOADED AT SEATTLE.
PORTLAND TELEPHONICALLY ADVISED OF RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SAME.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUING LAS VEGAS DIVISION AND ALL LEADS WILL BE GIVEN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
P.
END
SWD FBI SEATTLE CLR
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DB Cooper-1580