FBI summary report re NORJAK hijacking of Northwest Flight 305 (FD-263 cover sheet, cover pages, table of contents and body)
Document date 30 May 1973
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Id: Cooper-Part-111:002-008
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-111:002-008 Document: FBI summary report re NORJAK hijacking of Northwest Flight 305 (FD-263 cover sheet, cover pages, table of contents and body) Id: Cooper-Part-111:002-008 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-111%3A002-008 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
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FBI 164-81, Vault Part 111 pp. 2–8 (DB Cooper-669, DB Cooper-673, DB Cooper-677, DB Cooper-678, DB Cooper-683, DB Cooper-684, DB Cooper-692), Report, dated 30 May 1973 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-111%3A002-008
FD-263 (Rev. 1-7-72) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
REPORTING OFFICE: SAN DIEGO OFFICE OF ORIGIN: SEATTLE DATE: MAY 30 1973 INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD: 11/24/71 - 5/25/73 TYPE [b6, b7C redacted] REPORT MADE BY: [b6, b7C redacted]
TITLE OF CASE: UNKNOWN SUBJECT; aka Dan Cooper NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT #350 PORTLAND, OREGON, TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, 11/24/71
CHARACTER OF CASE: CAA - HIJACKING; EXTORTION
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REFERENCE: Seattle report of SA CHARLES E. FARRELL, dated 2/16/72.
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ADMINISTRATIVE
A code name for this case has been given by the Bureau as "NORJAK" and will be used in all communications.
The purpose of this report is to advise the Bureau and auxiliary offices of the pertinent investigation that has already occurred since SA CHARLES E. FARRELL's report of February 16, 1972, in order to facilitate future NORJAK investigation. Pursuant to this, no copy has been designated for the USA at Seattle.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS CLAIMED X NONE CONVIC. FUGS. FINES SAVINGS RECOVERIES ACQUIT-TALS
CASE HAS BEEN: PENDING OVER ONE YEAR [X]yes []no PENDING PROSECUTION OVER SIX MONTHS []yes [X]no
APPROVED SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE COPIES MADE:
FOR COPIES SEE NEXT PAGE
SFfile: 164-81 [signature - illegible] Dissemination Record of Attached Report Agency Request Recd. Date Fwd. How Fwd. By
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SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED FILED JUN 1 1973 FBI - SAN DIEGO
[b6, b7C redacted]
DB Cooper-669
SE 164-81
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4. Ascertain if he has knowledge of airplanes or parachuting (i.e. private pilot's license, skydiving experience, or military jump experience).
5. Obtain current photograph, color if possible, to display to witnesses. (Note: All NORJAK eyewitnesses have been repeatedly contacted and have reviewed numerous photographs. Up to now they have been extremely cooperative, not withstanding the many contacts they have endured both at work and at home. Based on the above, these witnesses will not be contacted to view photographs unless there is no other way to eliminate a suspect).
6. Compare suspect's fingerprints and palm prints with NORJAK partials on file in the Identifica- tion Bureau.
7. Ascertain if he is in any way familiar with the Pacific Northwest area and in particular if he ever flew over this area.
8. Check current financial situation and contrast it to his situation prior to NORJAK.
9. Determine if he smokes cigarettes or if he ever smoked cigarettes. (Note: Unsub smoked Raleigh cigarettes).
10. Determine if he was registered at a motel or hotel near the Portland Airport just prior to NORJAK.
11. Determine if he made any trial runs prior to NORJAK on airlines flying between Portland and Seattle.
12. Determine if has a safe deposit box and con- sider feasibility of obtaining a court order to determine its contents.
13. Compare his hair to hair fiber found on NORJAK airplane.
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- D - COVER PAGE
DB Cooper-673
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believed unsub was not well prepared for the hijacking and had not thoroughly thought the hijacking out, he most pro- bably always carries a small pocket knife with him.
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The following information tends to indicate unsub was somewhat conservative in his thinking and dress:
1. Short style hair
2. Age mid 40's
3. Dark colored suit, dark colored raincoat, white shirt, narrow black tie.
4. Unsub did not swear and showed a great deal of respect for the stewardesses on the airline because they were women. (Unsub engaged in a small argument with one of the passengers, as well as experiencing extremely tense and nervous situations, and through it all he never used profane language - this might indicate he is possibly a religious man. Since he did drink, and since he is possibly religious, he probably is not a Baptist or Mormon.)
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The following information tends to indicate Unsub possibily possessed athletic ability:
1. His physical build was described as average to well built, even though his age was described as in his mid-40's.
2. Unsub exhibited some physical dexterity using his hands and a small knife.
3. Unsub apparently parachuted from an aircraft at night; something that would require no small degree of physical ability.
It is felt unsub possibly maintains his physical well being through regular exercise.
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- H - COVER PAGE DB Cooper-677
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The following information tends to indicate the Unsub was a gentleman:
1. He offered to tip the stewardesses on the NORJAK flight after he received his ransom money. He did not offer them ransom money as the tip, but used his own money.
2. During the entire hijacking he did not use profane language.
3. Throughout the hijacking he maintained a calm demeanor and spoke low and intelligently.
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The following information tends to indicate Unsub lived in the northwest area at some time in his life:
1. Unsub knew the distance from McChord to Sea-Tac and recognized Tacoma, Washington from the air.
2. Unsub was dressed in a suit and lightweight overcoat which is commonly worn by many northwest area residents.
3. No accent or unusual speech mannerisms were detected by the Northwest Airlines stewardesses who had a chance to observe him.
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SPORT PARACHUTIST
The hijacker is probably not a sports parachutist nor is he a member of a sport parachute club. The reasons for this are as follows:
1. The hijacker requested two back parachutes and two front parachutes. He gave no specific instructions as to the type of parachute that he desired. (i.e. a sports parachutist would probably have requested a steerable sport
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- I - COVER PAGE
DB Cooper-678
FD-302 (3-5-9) [redacted]
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
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Copy to:
Report of: Office: Seattle, Washington b6 Date: b7C
Field Office File #: 164-81 Bureau File #: 164-2111
Title: UNKNOWN SUBJECT; NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT #350, PORTLAND, OREGON, TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 24, 1971
Character: CRIME ABOARD AIRCRAFT - HIJACKING; EXTORTION
Synopsis: On November 24, 1971, a white male skyjacked a North- west Airlines Flight from Portland to Seattle. The hijacker demanded and received $200,000 and four pa- chutes upon landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. After receiving the ransom money, the hijacker allowed the passengers to leave. The plane then took off for Reno and at 8:11 p.m. a pressure oscillation was noted by the plane's crew. That pressure oscillation was probably caused by the hijacker leaving the aircraft. Search of the aircraft at Reno revealed the hijacker was not in the plane when it landed. Extensive searches of the area into which the hijacker would have landed failed to locate the hijacker or any evidence of value. The initial black and white artist composite drawing of the hijacker was changed to a color sketch to more accurately reflect the hijacker's age and swarthy complexion.
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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-683
SE 164-81
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages
THE HIJACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3- 8 LOGS AND RECORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13 SEARCH AREA (WITH MAPS). . . . . . . . . . .14-25 FIRST TERRAIN SEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 HUNTERS SEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-28 SECOND TERRAIN SEARCH (WITH MAPS). . . . . .28-31 CURRENT INVESTIGATION Artist Sketch. . . . . . . . . . . .33 FAA Records. . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Boeing File Review . . . . . . . . .33 Raleigh Cigarettes . . . . . . . . .35 First Skyjacking Utilizing Parachutes. . .40 SR 71 Flight . . . . . . . . . . . .45-47
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DB Cooper-684
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2.
SE 164-81
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It is apparent from the following excerpts, taken from logs maintained by ground personnel on November 24, 1971, that the hijacker exited the airplane at 8:11 p.m. local time.
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When the hijacker jumped, the air stairs were forced closed causing an increase in air pressure similar to shutting a car door with the windows up. As this pressure increase occurred the co-pilot turned to look at the cabin rate of climb meter and in doing so his communications ear plug was pulled from his ear.
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The co-pilot's comments at this time were being recorded on a tape recorder which had previously been started on a time standard signal. Through careful play back and sequencing, the time of the pressure oscillation caused by the air stairs closing after Unsub departed was determined to be 8:11 p.m. local time.
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DB Cooper-692
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10.