Part 50, page 341

Transcript

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Hijacker Collects $200,000 Ransom and [cut off]

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Continued From Page 1, Col. 6 other problem. Two military models were found at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma and rushed to the Seattle field. When the hijacker learned that military models were being supplied, he demanded that sport models be made avail- able instead. These were found at a nearby airfield used by sky divers. The difference in the two kinds of parachutes — a differ- ence that was to prove signifi- cant later in the evening — is that the military models open automatically after about 200 feet, whereas users of sports chutes can free fall as long as they like before pulling the rip- cord. While the money and para- chutes were being assembled, Flight 305 circled the Seattle airfield. The passengers were told that there was mechanical trouble, and that the pilot was trying to burn up fuel before landing.

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been permitted to debark. Two stewardesses are in the auto- mobile," he said. "Just get out of here and start pumping gas." "We have one stewardess re- maining with the individual," the captain went on. "I hope that truck [the gas truck] is full. He's getting awfully antsy. He wants the stewardess sitting back there with him on the take-off." The hijacker said that he wanted to go to Mexico City, but the crew explained that that was outside the jet's maxi- mum range. They eventually settled for a refueling stop at Reno, Nev. At one point in the negotia- tions, an official of the Federal Aviation Administration board- ed the plane and tried to talk the hijacker into surrendering, but he replied, "Let's get this show on the road."

Hijacker's Flight Order

The hijacker made very care- ful stipulations for the take-off and flight to Reno. He said that

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for 1,000 feet or so before [his] [cut off] opening his chute, he would [cut off] Portland stewardesses are in the auto- not have been seen in the night [on] [cut off] Julius Mattson, the F.B.I. agent in charge in Portland, said that the search for the hijacker was being conducted [beginning] around Amboy, Wash., which is just south of Lake Merwin. "It's not a bad spot to land if the guy knows what he's doing," the agent said. He said that there were a number of small airfields in the area used for sky diving. There was evidence of sub- stantial and deeply thought-out planning in the hijacking. The choice of the 727 was essen- tial since it is the only kind of commercial jet from which it is safer to parachute, because the rear exit is behind and un- der the engines.

Request for Parachutes

There was also apparent pur- pose in asking for more than one parachute. The reasoning is that the authorities think the hijacker was going

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DB Cooper-21033