A few notes about Alice Hancock, undisputed and from various documents.
Alice Hancock was the Senior flight attendant in charge that day and in charge of the other stews. Her station allowed her to tend to the first class passengers in addition to supervising the other stews. Her station allowed her to observe Cooper directly and interact with him, which she did on at least three occasions.
One document says: "Schaffner took the note Cooper had dictated to her to Alice Hancock, who took it to the cockpit. The pilot and co-pilot relayed to air traffic control at SeaTac that a man with a bomb had taken control of the plane and wanted $200,000 in "negotiable American currency". The airport's management called the Seattle PD, which, in turn, called the FBI. They had about an hour to come up with the cash and the parachutes."
Chief eyewitnesses were Mitchell, Mucklow, Schaffner and Hancock who all gave depositions:
Hancock describes how she went to Cooper directly and talked to him briefly to try and get a reading on the man, after Flo had given her his instructions. She passed her observations on to the pilots. Alice watched as Tina brought in the money and the chutes and gave Tina a nod asking if she needed help. Alice watched and noted his reactions as Cooper received the money and the chutes. Alice inquired about Schaffner's condition as Flo was holding forth in the cockpit.
Hancock could not remember what kind of maps the subject requested. During the flight, Hancock advises the hijacker wanted continual re-assurance that nothing was going to go wrong. She stated that the hijacker was good natured during the flight.
(During her final minutes on board and after the parachutes had been brought aboard), Hancock noticed that one of the parachutes had been unpacked and she asked the hijacker if he had taken the parachute apart and he replied “yes”. Hancock says the hijacker began unpacking one chute and cutting cords almost as soon as the chutes were brought on board. Hancock asked the hijacker why he was doing this! Cooper stated that he needed to make a container for the money since his request for a knapsack had been ignored. This lead to a fairly lengthy exchange - Hancock told the hijacker they could still get him a knapsack to which Cooper replied: 'Dont bother. I can make something up', or something to that effect.
Cooper never offered Hancock any money.
Hancock states that he had his hand inside the brief case at all times when he and Mucklow were seated together in row 18.
(Hancock and the hijacker had several more interactions but the data on that has not been released yet. One exchange involves the hijacker asking Hancock to remain visible. The hijacker would not let Mucklow come forward and he told Hancock that he wanted her and Mucklow to remain visible at all times.)
When Hancock and Schaffner were released to leave the plane, it was Schaffner who went to the back of the plane and asked the hijacker directly if the stewardesses could go and he said: Whatever you girls would like”. Then Hancock and Schaffner left the plane with Mucklow still in the back with the hijacker. No sooner had Hancock left the plane and was standing beside the front of the plane, Hancock realised she had left her purse at her station on the plane. Alice went back up the stairs and went back to the hijacker and asked him if she could retrieve her purse, and the hijacker sad "yes, of course". Hancock thanked the hijacker and left the plane with her purse without any further interaction with Mucklow or the hijacker.
Further elaboration pending . . .
Here are some facts related to the maps and crew meals. There is no documentation that the flight crew was ever informed that Cooper wanted maps and crew meals but was informed of Cooper's other demands. There is no documentation that the flight crew ever informed NWA personnel in Seattle that Cooper wanted maps and crew meals although they were informed of Cooper's other demands.
Flo does not mention Cooper asking for maps and crew meals in her FBI 302 interview which was conducted in Seattle immediately after she left the aircraft but she mentioned the other demands.
Alice does mention Cooper asking for maps and crew meals in her FBI 302 interview which was conducted in Seattle immediately after she left the aircraft and she mentioned the other demands.
The FBI 302 interviews of Harald Anderson, William Rataczak, and Captain William Scott in Reno immediately after the hijacking do not mention Cooper asking for maps and crew meals.
Tina does not mention Cooper asking for maps and crew meals in her FBI 302 interview in Reno immediately after the hijacking.
In another FBI 302 interview done in Pennsylvania on December 1 and 2, 1971, Tina is quoted making the following statement:
"She [Tina] told him [Cooper] that they had crew meals and maps, and requested permission to go get them. [See additional comment following which was inserted here in another version of this quotation from unknown sources.] He said "'yes'", and she did, returning the items and taking a seat next to him." The additional comment, from unknown sources, is "he had not asked for maps after originally ordering maps
".
The above quotation took place after the money and parachutes were onboard. It is also the first documented mention of one of the stews mentioning maps or crew meals, other than Alice's interview.
Just prior to landing in Seattle, Al Lee informed the flight crew through the ARINC teletype system that he had four crew meals and maps available. He gave a brief description of the aeronautical maps. As Al Lee would know without anyone mentioning anything to him, the crew would need additional maps and some food in this matter. Al Lee apparently did not include a meal for Cooper.
Alice would still be on the aircraft when Tina brought the box of maps and crew meals on board and she may have just assumed that Cooper had asked for them. There is no supporting documentation that Cooper asked for them. Alice's involvement in the whole matter is discussed further in other paperwork. But it appears to be obvious that she had less contact with Cooper than Tina and Flo.
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