So did the third stewardess, who we never hear much about, Hancock, weigh in on his age and all of that? She is rarely mentioned but must have gotten a good look?
Interview of Hancock - I think its in the Vault here.
11/24/71 Hancock Interview:
Alice Hancock a stewardess aboard Northwest Airlines Flight #305 provided the following information:
On November 24, 1971, Hancock stated that the individual who hijacked Northwest Airlines Flight #305, a Boeing 727, boarded the aircraft at Portland OR, and at the time he boarded he was carrying a briefcase which measured about 12 by 18 inches, and was dark brown or black in color. She stated that the hijacker handed another stewardess (Florence Schaffner) a ransom note demanding $200,000 dollars in cash. Hancock believes that the note was handed to Schaffner very shortly before takeoff from Portland. Hancock advised that the hijacker’s demands were communicated to the Captain of the aircraft via the aircraft’s intercom by another stewardess named Mucklow.
Hancock stated that the note the hijacker handed to Schaffner stated the hijacker had a bomb, in a briefcase he was carrying, and that he wanted $200,000 dollars and absolutely no trickery or interference or he would explode the bomb he said he was carrying. Hancock also advised the hijacker requested four parachutes. After the hijacker stated these demands, the stewardess named Schaffner went to the cockpit of the aircraft (with the note the hijacker had written and another list of his demands she had written as the hijacker dictated his demands to her), to advise the Captain of the plane of the situation. (In the meantime another stewardess named Mucklow took a seat beside the hijacker). Stewardess Schaffner remained in the cockpit until just before landing in Seattle. Meanwhile the hijacker remained in his seat and had another stewardess named Mucklow sit by him.
Hancock stated the hijacker assigned the stewardess named Mucklow to get off the plane in Seattle to get the money he demanded, and then after that she was to go off the airplane again and get four parachutes that he demanded. In addition to the parachutes and the money the hijacker also requested four crew meals. Hancock says that ‘Flo’ had told her that he hijacker wanted to go to Mexico and was very concerned throughout the flight about Sky Marshals being on board the aircraft.
Hancock stated that the subject made his demands known in this order:
1) He wanted the money brought on board first.
2) We wanted (passengers) off the aircraft after the money was on board.
3) We wanted parachutes and four crew meals.
4) He wanted the plane completely refueled.
5) We wanted maps.
She 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.
After the plane landed (at Seattle) and the passengers were off-loaded, Mucklow was on the telephone updating the hijacker’s demands to the Captain of the aircraft.
The hijacker then informed Mucklow to tell the other stewardesses and crew to remain on board. At this point Hancock states that the pilots of the aircraft wanted the stewardesses off the plane. (They tried to arrange this with the hijacker through Mucklow). Once the stewardesses were off the aircraft, Hancock states that the pilots had planned to get off the aircraft by jumping out through (a door in) the cockpit. (The hijacker however would not let Mucklow come forward). None of this happened because the hijacker could see them and they feared that he would set off the bomb that he had in his briefcase.
Then Schaffner 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.
Hancock describes the subject as a male Caucasian, olive complexion, age 38-45, 6’1”, 170-175 lbs, slim build, black hair, wavy (marcelled) and short on the back (Continental look?), He wore no hat and wore sunglasses with plastic frames which looked like prescription glasses. He wore a black trench coat, white shirt and tie, and dark slacks. He wore no gloves and was soft-spoken and had no accent. He had no visible scars or marks.
Hancock states that he had his hand inside the brief case at all times when he and Mucklow were seated together in row 18.
(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.
