Letterhead memorandum re attempted hijacking of American Airlines Flight 47, 12/26/71
Document date 28 December 1971
Also filed at: Part 17 pp. 431–433 · Part 92 pp. 379–381
Copies may differ in what was redacted.
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Id: Cooper-Part-103:444-446
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-103:444-446 Document: Letterhead memorandum re attempted hijacking of American Airlines Flight 47, 12/26/71 Id: Cooper-Part-103:444-446 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-103%3A444-446 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 103 pp. 444–446 (DB Cooper-46907–46909), Report, dated 28 Dec 1971 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-103%3A444-446
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
In Reply, Please Refer to File No.
Salt Lake City, Utah December 28, 1971
[REDACTED - b6/b7C]
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On December 26, 1971, at 8:42 PM the Salt Lake City Office of the FBI was advised by [REDACTED - b6/b7C] Federal Aviation Administration, Salt Lake City International Airport, that an unidentified man was in the process of hijacking American Airlines Flight 47, a Boeing 707, scheduled non-stop from Chicago, Illinois, to San Francisco, California. The man first made known his hijacking intent while the aircraft was above Rock Springs, Wyoming, therefore the pilot diverted his aircraft to the Salt Lake City International Airport and was scheduled to land at 8:56 PM.
Special Agents of the FBI immediately proceeded to the International Airport where they boarded the aircraft at Gate 11. The man was being physically restrained by aircraft passengers and personnel and upon identification of the Agents the man was surrendered to the custody of the FBI. He identified himself as [REDACTED - b6/b7C] at Chicago, Illinois, and gave the following information:
Height 5' 10" Weight 165 Eyes Green Hair Blond Home Address [REDACTED - b6/b7C] Illinois
Social Security Number [REDACTED - b6/b7C] Parents [REDACTED - b6/b7C] Illinois
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SEARCHED ......INDEXED...... SERIALIZED [illegible] FILED DEC 30 1971 FBI—SEATTLE
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This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
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DB COOPER-46907
[REDACTED]
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[REDACTED] had in his possession a commercial pilot license, single engine, Federal certificate number [REDACTED] and holds membership in the Parachute Club of America number [REDACTED] P. O. Box 409, Monterey, California. It appeared from his physical appearance that [REDACTED] was under the influence of alcoholic beverage. Upon interview [REDACTED] furnished extensive background information but refused to make any statement as to his activity in regard to the hijacking of the aircraft.
When questioned as to why he carried a plastic pistol he stated he carried it for protection and did admit contemplating hijacking the aircraft prior to boarding it at Chicago. In the presence of Special Agents, while talking to an attorney named [REDACTED], Illinois, he made the statement "I just hijacked an airplane".
Interview with passengers and personnel aboard Flight 47 determined that [REDACTED] approached the stewardesses, [REDACTED] and exhibited what was considered an automatic weapon. To each of the stewardesses on separate occasions he advised he was hijacking the aircraft. Stewardess [REDACTED] touched the weapon and realized it was plastic. [REDACTED] then stated he had a suitcase aboard with plastic "stuff" in it and told [REDACTED] to tell the Captain not to go under 2400 feet or it would go off. The explosion would not kill anyone but it would knock a hole in the airplane. To Stewardess [REDACTED] he made similar comments regarding the suitcase and also made the statement he was going to prove that any "ding dong" could get $250,000 out of an airline company.
When the hijacking attempt was made known to the Captain the flight was immediately diverted to land at Salt Lake City, which was the nearest airport which could accomodate the Boeing 707. The Federal Aviation Administration was advised of the hijacking in progress.
As the aircraft touched down at the Salt Lake City International Airport [REDACTED] attempted to open the compartment door. As he did so he was seized by [REDACTED] [REDACTED] a passenger aboard the aircraft, and [REDACTED] who was traveling as a passenger.
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b6 b7C
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2 DB COOPER-46908
[REDACTED]
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The plastic weapon and a single blade fish knife were taken from [REDACTED] person at the time he was seized. [REDACTED] had the knife secreted in an athletic supporter next to his body with the blade open. Coleman made no attempt to use the knife at any time while on the aircraft.
" Interviews of flight personnel and passengers aboard Flight 47 were limited due to the necessity of continuing the flight to San Francisco. Interviews are continuing.
On December 26, 1971, U. S. Attorney C. Nelson Day, Salt Lake City, authorized prosecution of [REDACTED] for violation of Title 49, Sections 1472(i) and 1472(j), U. S. Code.
On December 27, 1971, an authorized complaint was filed before U. S. Magistrate A. M. Ferro, Salt Lake City, charging [REDACTED] with the above violation. A warrant was issued the same date and bond set at $200,000. [REDACTED] was remanded to the custody of the U. S. Marshal in lieu of bond pending his hearing. [REDACTED] appeared before Mr. Ferro on December 27, 1971 and stated he would obtain his own counsel. A preliminary hearing was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 5, 1972, at 3:30 PM.
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[illegible — heavily degraded photocopy artifacts or bleed-through text]
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3* DB COOPER-46909