Part 53, page 160
DB Cooper-22498Serials SE 164-81
Document date 25 November 1971
FBI 164-81, Vault Part 53 p. 160 (DB Cooper-22498), News clipping, dated 25 Nov 1971 — cooper.theunsolved.net/parts/Cooper-Part-53/pages/160
Transcript
The scan is the source; the transcript is machine-generated from it.
(Mount Clipping in Space Below)
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Hijacker was relaxed, say passengers
By MIKE WYNE
A portrait of an unimpressive, cool and relaxed hijacker was sketched by passengers last evening at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport as they tried to recall the seatmate who held them more than three hours for $200,000 ransom.
As a Northwest Orient Airlines stewardess handled the complicated instructions of the hijacker, only other flight-crew members knew he was threatening to dynamite their 727 from the sky.
A FEW PASSENGERS worried. Most said they believed the flight captain's announcement that Flight 305 was experiencing mechanical difficulties and had to "burn" fuel by circling over Seattle.
Actually Capt. Bill Scott was burning time while ground personnel complied with the hijacker's orders.
Questioned after they left a questioning session conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, passengers recalled their abductor:
"A quiet guy." "He had dark glasses." ". . . kind of relaxed in his seat." "Sort of slouched."
"Never said anything." "Didn't notice him until we were getting off." "Middle-aged and well-dressed."
Passengers talked, read, napped and stared out the window as the busy drama unfolded of collecting the ransom, cordoning the airport, locating parachutes and preparing to secure a runway area for refueling and exchanging cash for passengers.
Two of the debarking passengers, however, were eager to professionally deal with their abductor. They were Larry Finegold, assistant United States attorney for Western Washington, and Richard Simmons, head of Job Therapy, a prisoner-rehabilitation program.
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Robert B. Gregory
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(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.)
p. G17 The Seattle Times Seattle, Wash.
Date: 11/25/71 Edition: Author: Mike Wyne Editor: Henry McLeod Title: UNSUB;Northwest Airlines, Flight 305 Portland to Seattle Character: 11/24/71
orCAA-HIJACKING;EXT Classification: 164-81 Submitting Office: Seattle
[ ] Being Investigated
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COPY SENT TO BUREAU SERCHED .......... INDEXED .......... SERIALIZED .......... FILED .......... [illegible] 3 1971 FBI—SEATTLE
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DB Cooper-22498