Flight attendant account of hijacking, Las Vegas file continuation pages
Part of: Interview of Northwest Airlines flight attendant re Flight 305 hijacking (Las Vegas)
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Id: Cooper-Part-112:039-042
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-112:039-042 Document: Flight attendant account of hijacking, Las Vegas file continuation pages Id: Cooper-Part-112:039-042 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-112%3A039-042 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 112 pp. 39–42 (DB Cooper-7065–7068), Report — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-112%3A039-042
LV 164-GO
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dynamite; however, she is unfamiliar with the appearance of dynamite and could only describe it as stated above, adding that it was of a reddish rusty color.
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[REDACTED] then advised the pilot's compartment of the fact the plane was being hijacked via the intercom. She used the intercom while remaining in her seat inasmuch as it was close by and she could reach same from her seated position. It was with a pre-arranged signal of bells that she so advised the pilot's compartment. [REDACTED] at that time on a plain envelope wrote out the demands of the hijacker, listing that he wanted four parachutes including two back packs and two chest packs, $200,000.00 in cash in small bills and that he wanted all this "by five o'clock". She recalls that [REDACTED] delivered this note to the pilot's compartment inasmuch as the hijacker insisted that she be physically present alongside him at all times. She recalled that she sat with him almost the entire time of the flight.
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[REDACTED] recalled that during the flight from Portland to Seattle, all passengers were moved at least three rows forward from where the hijacker was seated. She stated that at one time he commented that "the bomb" he had was electrically fused and he certainly hoped the crew would not generate any electrical currents which would trigger it. In response to her query as to why he had chosen a Northwest airplane to hijack, she related his statement to the effect that he had "a grudge" but not against Northwest Airlines, adding that the Northwest plane just happened to be in the right place at the right time. In response to her query at one time during their conversation as to where he came from, [REDACTED] stated the hijacker was adamant in his refusal to answer and seemed somewhat provoked by the question. [REDACTED] recalled that frequently during her conversa- tion with the hijacker he kept reminding her that the crew should attempt "nothing funny" and each time she assured him that he would receive the full cooperation of the crew.
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[guess: HNRI] / [guess: HNDLCH] / [guess: INV] / [guess:RIQUE] / [guess: PDS] / [guess: COLCGH] / [guess: A COSQUT] / [guess: DRHO]
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b6 b7c b6 b7c
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DB Cooper-7065
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38
LV 164-60
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Sometime before going into the landing pattern at the Seattle - Tacoma Airport, the hijacker reiterated his previous instructions that all the items he had requested, including the money and the parachutes, must be available at the airport before he would permit the plane to land. He also instructed that upon landing, [REDACTED] was to be his intermediary in not only delivering messages to the crew but also in transferring the items that he had requested from the ground to him in the aircraft. He specifically instructed that upon landing only one unmarked automobile should approach the aircraft and it should approach and park in such a position that the hijacker could observe it at all times. He also instructed that the pickup rig which delivers the exit stairway to the forward compartment of the aircraft be available immediately upon landing in order that [REDACTED] could go out the forward door and contact the intermediary in the unmarked car to obtain the items he had requested. Additionally, he instructed that a fuel truck be available in the area upon landing and same fuel truck was to be manned by only one employee. He was insistent that every condition be met and that everything be available on the ground prior to the landing of the aircraft.
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[REDACTED] recalls that the aircraft went into a holding pattern for a period of time she estimated over one hour and she stated she felt this was because all of the items the hijacker had requested were not yet available on the ground.
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After a period of time [REDACTED] said the aircraft landed and an announcement was made from the cockpit rather than by a hostess in the cabin, as is the normal procedure, to the effect that some mechanical difficulty had been en- countered and the passengers were all requested to remain in their seats with their seat belts fastened. [REDACTED] recalls that the hijacker went to the nearby lavatory at this time stating he would return in a few minutes, at which time the stairway to the forward door should be ready. When he went to the lavatory, he closed the attache case and carried it with him. He came out of the lavatory in a matter of three or four minutes and again took the same seat he had occupied.
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DB Cooper-7066
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b6 b7C
LV 164-60
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The hijacker further indicated to [REDACTED] that as soon as this lowering of the door and stairs were accomplished in flight, she would be permitted to go to the pilot's compartment. During the period of furnishing these conditions, the hijacker became extremely annoyed over the time required to refuel the plane as he had ordered.
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The hijacker displayed an extensive knowledge of the aircraft and seemed specifically well informed in refueling procedures to the point that the crew had difficulty in convincing him that only 96% of the required fuel was on board at the time he was protesting the fact that refueling had not been completed. It was also during this time (when he was upset concerning refueling) that he complained to [REDACTED] also that he had requested the money be delivered to him in a knapsack and instead it was delivered in a cloth bank-type bag, which displeased him. It was at this time that [REDACTED] recalls he stated that he would be forced to use one of the parachutes to rewrap the money since he had not been furnished a knapsack container. [REDACTED] recalled that it was at about this time she observed a small green paper bag (contents unknown). She stated that she recalled no other packages or luggage belonging to the hijacker except for the attache case and this small green paper bag. She also recalls that it was at about this time she again offered to get him something to eat or drink, which offer he refused as he had several previous offers. She clearly recalled that he accepted no refreshments of any kind while he was on board the aircraft.
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[REDACTED] recalled that it was at this time that the hijacker requested that all notes, including the one he had furnished to [REDACTED] and those written by [REDACTED] to be returned to him. In this connection she also recalled that he was a chain smoker. At one time she lit a cigarette for him with the last match in the paper match folder. When she attempted to discard the empty card folder, the hijacker decisively took it from her and placed it into one of his
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DB Cooper-7067
LV 164-60
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pockets, stating he did not want her to throw it away. She recalled that he smoked Raleigh filter tips. In commenting concerning the hijacker's actions in general, she stated that she recalled some conversation to the effect that the parachutes were coming from Mc Chord Air Force Base. The hijacker remarked that it was about 20 minutes from Mc Chord to the Seattle - Tacoma Airport. She also recalled that while they were in the holding pattern prior to landing, he at one time looked out the window and observed "We're over Tacoma now". [REDACTED] [REDACTED] indicated that there had been no announcement or no mention that the aircraft was over Tacoma and she accordingly concluded that the hijacker was familiar with the area.
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After refueling was completed and takeoff appeared imminent, the crew called on the intercom and advised that after checking with appropriate authorities, they had been told that the fuel load would not permit them to fly nonstop to Mexico City, or anywhere in Mexico, in fact. They pointed out that the range of fuel was such that they recommended landing to refuel somewhere in the San Francisco, California area. The hijacker countered with Phoenix, Arizona, as an alternative landing for refueling. When the crew responded in the negative due to the distance to Phoenix, Arizona, he at that time stated the aircraft could make Yuma, Arizona, or Reno, Nevada, and he preferred a landing in Reno, Nevada. The crew called back and stated they would proceed to Reno, Nevada.
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[REDACTED] stated that upon takeoff from Seattle, the hijacker was in seat 18-D or E (occupying both seats at various times) and she was seated across the aisle in 18-C. It was during this time, as she recalls it, that he was occupied with opening one of the parachute packs (recalling the color of the parachute as a bright pink-orange color) and attempting to in some way pack the money in a parachute container in order that he could in some way attach it to his body along with the regular parachute straps. Her recollections in this regard were vague, but she stated she clearly recalled his removing a small jack knife from his pocket and cutting some portion of either the outside container or the parachute in order to
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DB Cooper-7068
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43
Serials: LV 164-60