Interview of Northwest Flight 305 stewardess re hijacker's demands and parachutes

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 12/7/71

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[REDACTED] a stewardess aboard Northwest Airlines Flight #305, provided the following information:

On November 24, 1971, [REDACTED] stated that the individual who hijacked Northwest Airlines Flight #305, a Boeing 727, initially boarded the aircraft in Portland, Oregon, and at the time he boarded the aircraft he was carrying a briefcase which measured about 12 inches by 18 inches and was dark brown or black in color. She stated that the hijacker handed another stewardess on board the flight by the name of [REDACTED] a ransom note demanding $200,000 in cash. [REDACTED] believes that the note was handed to [REDACTED] very shortly after takeoff from Portland. She advised that the hijacker's demands were communicated to the Captain of the aircraft via the aircraft's intercom system by another stewardess named [REDACTED]

[REDACTED] stated that the note which the hijacker handed to [REDACTED] stated that the hijacker had a bomb in the briefcase that he was carrying and that he wanted $200,000 and absolutely no trickery or he would explode the bomb that he had in his briefcase. In addition, [REDACTED] advised that the hijacker requested four parachutes. After these demands were stated, the stewardess named [REDACTED] went to the cockpit of the aircraft to advise the captain of the situation and remained in the cockpit until just before landing in Seattle. Meanwhile the hijacker remained in his seat and had another stewardess by the name of [REDACTED] next to him.

[REDACTED] stated that the hijacker wanted the stewardess named [REDACTED] to go to get off the plane in Seattle and to get the money that he demanded and then after she got the money, she was to go off the aircraft again to get the four parachutes that he demanded. In addition to the para- chutes and the money the hijacker also requested four crew meals. [REDACTED] advised that [REDACTED] had told her that the hijacker wanted to go to Mexico and was very concerned throughout the flight about sky marshals being on board the

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Interviewed on 11/24/71 at Seattle, Washington File # SE 164-81-828

[REDACTED] /bfr Date dictated 12/1/71

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-3625

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SE 164-81

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aircraft. She stated that the hijacker made his demands known in this order:

1) He wanted the money first 2) He wanted the people off the aircraft after the money was on board 3) He wanted parachutes and four crew meals 4) He wanted the plane completely re-fueled 5) He wanted maps

[REDACTED] could not remember what kind of maps the hijacker had requested.

During the flight, [REDACTED] advised that the hijacker wanted continued re-assurance that nothing was going to go wrong. After the plane landed and the passengers dis-embarked, [REDACTED] was on the telephone relaying the hijacker's demands to the captain of the aircraft.

[REDACTED] stated that the hijacker was good- natured during the flight.

The hijacker then informed [REDACTED] to tell the other stewardesses and crew to remain on board. At this point, [REDACTED] stated that the pilots of the aircraft wanted the stewardesses to leave the plane. Once the stewardesses had successfully left the aircraft, [REDACTED] stated that the pilots had planned to get off the plane by jumping out through the cockpit. However, none of them did deplane because the hijacker could see them and they feared that he would set off the bomb that he had in his briefcase.

Then [REDACTED] went to the back of the plane and asked the hijacker if the stewardesses could go and he said "Whatever you girls would like." Then she and [REDACTED] another stewardess on board left the aircraft.

[REDACTED] described the hijacker as a male Caucasian, olive complexion, age 38 to 45, 6' 1", 170 to 175 pounds, slim build, black hair, wavy, short and trimmed in the back. He wore no hat, and wore dark sunglasses with plastic frames which looked like prescription sunglasses. He wore a black trench-coat, white shirt and tie, and dark slacks. He wore no gloves and was soft-spoken and had no accent. He had no visible scars or marks.

[REDACTED] advised that the briefcase which the hijacker carried on board with him was in the window seat next to him and that he was sitting in the middle seat with the stewardess, [REDACTED] on his left. She stated that he had his right hand inside the briefcase at all times. At one point

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DB Cooper-3626

SE 164-81

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during the hijacking [REDACTED] noticed that one of the parachutes that had been brought on board had been unpacked and she asked the hijacker if he had taken the parachute apart and he replied Yes.

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