Part 76, page 112

Transcript

The scan is the source; the transcript is machine-generated from it.

SE 164-81

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FIRST SKYJACKING UTILIZING PARACHUTES

In an effort to determine the origin of the D.B. COOPER hijacking (i.e. the original idea behind the skyjack plan), a review was conducted of the magazine and newspaper articles written just prior to NORJAK.

The below quoted newspaper article described the first known skyjacking in which a parachute was used by the skyjacker.

The Seattle Times, November 13, 1971:

"Calgary, Alberta - (UPI) - A masked hyjacker carrying more than 40 pounds of dynamite was knocked un- conscious today by an Air Canada crewman wielding a fire ax. The crewman's action 3,000 feet in the air ended a six- hour hijacking which skipped back and forth over the United States - Canadian border.

"The hijacker, reported in fair condition today with a possible skull fracture, was putting on a parachute to bail out of the DC8 over Calgary when he was struck by the ax.

"The hijacker, carrying a shotgun in addition to the dynamite, took control last night of the Calgary to Montreal flight carrying 123 persons. Claiming to be a member of the Irish Republican Army, the man demanded $1.5 million and a free passage to Ireland. (A touring I.R.A. spokesman denied that the hijacker belonged to the I.R.A.)

"After landing in Great Falls, Montana, the man accepted $50,000 ransom. The plane took off, landed again at Great Falls, and the man let the passengers to unharmed. But, he ordered the plane with its five-member crew to take off again. Indecision on the part of the hijacker led the plane back and forth across the border before he ap- parently decided to jump.

"An Air Canada official said that as the hijacker was preparing to jump, the pilot, [REDACTED]

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b6 b7C

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40.

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DB Cooper-33081