Philadelphia to Director, Minneapolis and Seattle re stewardess reinterview on hijacker's actions and aft stairs

This copy: Part 67 pp. 158–160Also filed at Part 66 pp. 67–70 (primary) · Part 65 pp. 68–71

This copy’s own title

Urgent teletype Philadelphia to Director, Minneapolis and Seattle re crew and witness interviews

Document date 3 December 1971

Part 67pages 158–1603 pagesDB Cooper-28437–28439

Another copy of this document is the primary, most legible copy: Part 66 pp. 67–70.

Copies may differ in what was redacted.

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Id: Cooper-Part-67:158-160

Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-67:158-160

Document: Urgent teletype Philadelphia to Director, Minneapolis and Seattle re crew and witness interviews
Id: Cooper-Part-67:158-160
Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-67%3A158-160

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FBI 164-81, Vault Part 67 pp. 158–160 (DB Cooper-28437–28439), Teletype, dated 3 Dec 1971, serial SE 164-81-543 (as read from the transcript) — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-67%3A158-160

Witnesses

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NR003 PH PLAIN 610 PM URGENT 12-3-71 DCC TO DIRECTOR (164-2111) MINNEAPOLIS (164-73) SEATTLE (164-81) FROM PHILADELPHIA (164-133)

UNSUB; NORTHWEST AIRLINES, FLIGHT THREE ZERO FIVE, NOVEMBER TWENTY- FOUR LAST, CAA - HIJACKING; OO: SEATTLE

RE PH TEL CALL TO SEATTLE DEC. TWO LAST, AND SEATTLE TELETYPE TO PH DATED DEC. ONE LAST.

ON DEC. TWO LAST, [REDACTED] STEWARDESS, NORTHWEST AIRLINES, RESIDING [REDACTED] [REDACTED] PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFO: WHEN SHE DEPARTED PLANE IN SEATTLE TO PICK UP TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, HIJACKER INDICATED HE WAS GOING TO USE THE LAVATORY AND STARTED TOWARD THE AFT LAVATORY WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE PLANE WITH THE MONEY, HE WAS IN HIS SEAT. SHE DOES NOT RECALL HIJACKER CHANGING CLOTHES OR HAVING ANY OTHER CLOTHES IN HIS POSESSION AND TO THE BEST OF HER KNOWLEDGE, HE WAS [REDACTED] END PAGE ONE

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[handwritten] Sub. H 164-81-543 SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ SERIALIZED [illegible] FILED [illegible] DEC 8 1971 FBI - SEATTLE

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DB Cooper-28437

PAGE TWO

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THE ATTACHE CASE WHEN HE WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE AFT LAVATORY. HE WAS CARRYING THE CASE ON ITS SIDE IN HIS LEFT HAND WITH HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE CASE.

[REDACTED] OBSERVED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER A GREEN SHOPPING TYPE BAG ON TOP OF ATTACHE CASE, SIZE OF BAG APPROXIMATELY THAT OF A DRESS SHIRT SIZE BAG FROM A CLOTHING STORE. HIJACKER WORE NON-LACE TYPE SHOES OF ANKLE LENGTH. THE HIJACKER DID NOT BRING FOOD ONTO THE PLANE OR EAT ANY FOOD EXCEPT FOR HAVING A DRINK OF LIQUOR.

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PRIOR TO TAKE OFF FROM SEATTLE AIRPORT, HIJACKER GAVE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS TO PILOT:

"WE ARE GOING TO MEXICO CITY. FLAPS DOWN, YOU CAN TRIM THEN TO FIFTEEN, YOU CAN STOP ANYWHERE IN MEXICO TO REFUEL, BUT NOWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, AFT DOOR TO BE OPEN, STAIRS DOWN, CABIN LIGHTS OUT, EVERYONE TO BE FORWARD OF FIRST CLASS CURTAIN, AND ALTITUDE UNDER TEN THOUSAND FEET." THERE WAS NO MENTION BY HIJACKER OF A HEADING OR AIR SPEED FOR FLIGHT.

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[REDACTED] ADVISED IT WAS HER RECOLLECTION THAT HIJACKER INITIALLY WANTED HER TO LOWER THE REAR STAIRS OR LADDER AND LATER CHANGED END PAGE TWO

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DB Cooper-28438

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b6 b7C

PAGE THREE

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HIS MIND AFTER AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF[guess: M],SHE WAS IN THE COCKPIT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF AND RECALLS TEN MINUTES AFTER BEING IN COCKPIT, THAT ONE OF THE COCKPIT CREW RECEIVED AN INTERPHONE CALL FROM HIJACKER ADVISING HE COULD NOT LOWER THE LADDER SO THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT OFF AND REDUCED SPEED. SHE RECALLS SEEING THE RED LIGHT GO ON THE SECOND OFFICER'S PANEL INDICATING THE REAR LADDER HAD DROPPED AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF THE FIRST CALL A SECOND CALL WAS RECEIVED BY ONE OF THE OFFICERS FROM HIJACKER WHICH WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE HIJACKER.

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ON DECEMBER TWO LAST, INVESTIGATION AT PHILADELPHIA INTERNATION- AL AIRPORT REVEALED THAT THERE IS AN ACCESS PANEL IN THE REAR LADDER. WELL ON EITHER SIDE OF THE WELL ENABLING MECHANICS TO REACH EQUIPMENT BETWEEN WELL AND OUTER FUSELAGE OF THE SHIP IN THE TAIL. THIS PANEL CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE WELL AND THE FUSELAGE WITHOUT TOOLS. FACING THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT IT IS NOTED THAT THE AREA BEHIND THE PANEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WELL CONTAINS SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR TWO OR THREE MEN TO BE INSIDE. THE END PAGE THREE

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DB Cooper-28439

Serials: 164-2111, MP 164-73, PH 164-133, SE 164-81, SE 164-81-543