FD-350 clipping: AP story on whether the Provo, Utah United Air Lines hijacker could be Cooper, with continuation

D-350 (Rev. 7-16-63) (Mount Clipping in Space Below)

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Cooper' Hijack Link Studied

Associated Press

The FBI said yesterday it is "consider- ing" the possibility that the hijacker who bailed out of an airliner with $500,000 late Friday might be the same man as "D. B. Cooper" who pulled a similar escapade last November.

A massive search for the latest hijack- er—who parachuted from a United Air- Lines 727 jetliner after leaving San Fran- cisco—was conducted in the Provo, Utah, area yesterday. But the search had all but ended last night after a local official re- ported a suspect has been identified but not apprehended.

Meanwhile, the search was continuing in the Woodland, Wash., area for the mys- terious Cooper, who parachuted Thanks- giving Eve from a Northwest Airlines 727 jetliner with $200,000.

The FBI at Las Vegas said the possibil- ity that the United hijacker might be the same man who used the D. B. Cooper name was "under consideration."

He said there was "always a possibili- ty" that the two might be the same, but added that there was no evidence at this time to indicate the possibility was true.

In Salt Lake City, FBI agent-in-charge

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(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.)

p.Al Seattle Post- Intelligencer Seattle, Wash.

Date: 4/9/72 Edition: Sunday Author: Editor: Dick Lyall Title: NORJAK Character: [handwritten: Lab. P] or 164-81-Sub. Classification: 386 Submitting Office: Seattle

☐ Being Investigated

COPY SENT TO BUREAU [handwritten fields: INDEXED / FILED]

- APR 1 2 1972 FBI—SEATTLE

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DB COOPER-50218

Russell Calame said only, "You'd have to look at the general data on each of them and reach your own conclusion."

The Federal Aviation Ad- ministration said, "How would we know?" and a United spokesman said he wouldn't dare speculate.

Cooper was described as a man in his 40s and the United hijacker has been described as in his 20s.

The United hijacker was identified on the plane's passenger list only as T. Johnson.

FBI agents said that a search by 200 persons around the Provo lake country had turned up no trace of Johnson.

The FBI refused to com- ment on the possibility of another search in another location.

"We are investigating, searching and following up leads," said Calame. He refused to deny or confirm a report by Provo Police Chief Jesse Evans that a "possible suspect" had been identified, but not ap- prehended.

In Los Angeles, mean- while, the pilot of the Unit- ed Air Lines 727 said he believes the hijacker may be a pilot.

"I would say he had an excellent knowledge of parachutes and airplanes," said Capt. Gerry Hearn.

He said the man sent specific instructions to the cockpit, and "the flight plan was similar to what we ourselves prepared."

The pilot also said the hi- jacker may have merely discarded four parachutes furnished by the airline and escaped in a chute car- ried aboard in his luggage.

Hearn said the airline's parachutes were equipped with electronic tracing de- vices.

Rumors circulated that the hijacker was picked up by a waiting helicopter, but the FBI would not con- firm or deny the report.

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The hijacker "cool and methodical as he passed his commands on hand- written notes carried by stewardesses to the pilot, took over the plane on a flight from Newark, N.J., to Los Angeles.

He allowed 85 passen- gers, a stewardess and four United officials to leave in San Francisco after receiv- ing $500,000 and four para- chutes. [illegible]

The November hijacker known as Cooper took over the Northwest airliner shortly after it left Port- land [illegible]

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land en route to Seattle. He demanded $200,000 and four parachutes.

The passengers were al- lowed to leave the plane at Seattle. The money and parachutes were turned over to the hijacker and he ordered the crew to fly to Reno, Nev.

When the plane arrived at Reno, the skyjacker, the money and two parachutes were gone.

Authorities theorized the man parachuted over rug- ged southwestern Washing- ton country, and a search was carried out for nearly two weeks.

The search was resumed about two weeks ago, called off at Easter and then reinstituted Friday.

The FBI has had little comment on the search for Cooper, but an Army spokesman earlier said he thought it might be the re- sult of "negative reaction."

He explained that be- cause none of the marked bills used as ransom mon- ey had turned up, law en- forcement authorities ap- parently believe Cooper may have been killed when he jumped from the Boeing 727 jetliner.

The first attempted para- chute skyjacking occurred last Nov. 12. It ended in failure when a member of the crew of an Air Canada jet subdued a man who had demanded money and parachutes which were de- livered at the Great Falls, Mont., airport. The sky- jacker was struck on the head with a fire ax as he was strapping on his para- chute.

In all, seven persons have used the modus oper- andi, in the quest for in- stant wealth. Only Cooper and Johnson are still at large.

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