Part 91, page 65

Transcript

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

[illegible] to find about a block away. [illegible] mayfield, who has [illegible]

---

Searchers Hunt in Vain for 'Chutist-Hijacker

---

WOODLAND, Wash. (AP) — Authorities hiked through rural woodlands seeking traces of a parachuting airline hijacker for the second day Saturday. But again they reported no clues.

The hijacker is believed to have bailed out over the 15-square mile search area Wednesday night after hijacking the Northwest Airlines jet at Seattle. He had demanded and received four parachutes and $200,000 ransom.

"We're concentrating our search for a parachute," said Tom Manning, FBI agent coordinating the search. "We think this will give us a clue as to what happened to the hijacker.

"We've determined the hijacker was wearing a sport type back pack parachute," Manning said. "That means it would be difficult for him to maneuver if he had any kind of bulk on him at all and we've been told $200,000 weighs over 20 pounds."

Authorities earlier said the ransom, largest ever paid a hijacker in the United States, was in $20 bills.

Searchers were told to look for two white parachute canopies and portions of a pink one which was found opened and torn when the plane landed at Reno, Nev., Wednesday night.

Searchers converged on a large piece of white fabric Saturday but it turned out to be a shelter for two young fishermen on the banks of the Lewis River.

"We checked reports of possible sightings but they all proved false," said Clark County Sheriff Eugene Cotton.

Helicopters flown by pilots familiar with the terrain of the farm and timber land of the area, joined the search under improving weather conditions.

---

Patchy fog hung over the area Friday.

The air and ground search was suspended Saturday when the ceiling lowered, preventing use of three helicopters and three fixed wing aircraft. The search will be resumed Sunday if weather permits.

Manning said house-to-house interviews of residents would be stepped up.

The hijacker—described as a well dressed, calm, middle-aged man, boarded the plane at Portland, Ore., and handed a stew-

---

ardess a note which said he had a bomb with him and wanted to go to Mexico.

While the plane circled Seattle, the hijacker identified as D. B. Cooper demanded the money and parachutes. The 36 passengers and two of the stewardesses were permitted to leave the plane when it landed in Seattle for refueling.

The man then ordered the plane to be flown no higher than 10,000 feet and with the rear boarding door down, the landing gear extended and 15 degree flaps. The man remained in the rear of the plane unseen by the crew.

Capt. William Scott, the pilot, said an indicator light showed

---

the rear stairwell was being operated when the plane was over Woodland.

Pilots of eight Air Force planes tailing the commandeered jetliner did not report seeing anyone jump from the plane, the Air Force said Friday. A sport type chute believed to be used by the hijacker allows a jumper tree fall before opening the chute.

---

DB Cooper-40435