Hughes Airwest#1972 hijacking
{{Short description|Defunct local service airline of the United States (1968–1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Hughes Airwest
| logo = Hughes Airwest logo.svg
| logo_size = 250
| IATA = RW
| ICAO =
| callsign = HUGHES-AIR
| founded = {{start date|1968|04|17}}
{{small|(amalgamation; as Air West)}}
| commenced = {{start date|1970||}}
{{small|(as Hughes Airwest)}}
| ceased = {{end date|1980|10|01}}
{{small|(acquired by Republic Airlines)}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ESFTAAAAIBAJ&pg=4348,933691|newspaper=Deseret News|agency=UPI |title=Republic Airlines takes over Hughest Airwest on Oct. 1|date=September 18, 1980 |page=10B}}
| bases =
| hubs = {{nowrap|San Francisco}}
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities = {{ubl|class=nowrap
| Boise
| Seattle/Tacoma}}
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| subsidiaries =
| fleet_size =
| destinations =
| parent =
| headquarters = San Mateo County, California, United States
| key_people = {{bulleted list|
| Nick Bez
| Howard Hughes (owner)
| Russell V. Stephenson (president)}}
| website =
}}
Image:Fairchild F-27A N755L Air West SFO 19.09.70 edited-3.jpgA in 1970
at San Francisco International Airport]]
Hughes Air Corporation, doing business as Hughes Airwest, was a local service carrier from 1970 to 1980 in the Western United States. It was backed by Howard Hughes' Summa Corporation. Its original name in 1968 was Air West and the air carrier was owned by Nick Bez. Hughes Airwest flew routes in the western U.S. and to several destinations in Mexico and Canada; its headquarters were on the grounds of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in unincorporated San Mateo County, California."World Airline Directory." Flight International. April 28, 1979. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201441.html?search=%22Hughes%20Airwest%22 1379].
With distinctive all-yellow aircraft, the company slogan was Top Banana in the West;{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wCJZAAAAIBAJ&pg=3502,6737762 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah)|title=Now, "Top Banana" service|agency=(advertisement)|date=June 29, 1976|page=16A}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uyJZAAAAIBAJ&pg=6184%2C5208764|newspaper=Deseret News|title=Top Banana in the West|agency=(advertisement)|date=June 22, 1976|page=back}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3PlLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7fgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4030%2C114391|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=(advertisement) |title=Go Bananas to Reno|date=March 1, 1977 |page=23}} Hughes Airwest was purchased by Republic Airlines in 1980, which in turn was merged into Northwest Airlines in 1986. Northwest Airlines was then merged into Delta Air Lines in 2010.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h8heAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5123%2C5511483 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Herman is in, the Big Yellow Banana is out|date=September 30, 1980 |page=1B}}
History
On April 17, 1968, three earlier local service carriers in the western U.S. merged to form Air West:{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8mQhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4770,3404180 |newspaper=Tri-City Herald |location=(Washington)|agency=Associated Press|title=Air West merger legally complete|date=April 18, 1968|page=3}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8KVfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5036,5115162 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|last=Campbell |first=Thomas W. |title=Another merger: now it's Air West |date=April 28, 1968|page=21}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U9hVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4553%2C73591 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Air West's service said deteriorating |date=October 2, 1968 |page=4A}}
- Pacific Air Lines, which previously operated as Southwest Airways when it was founded in 1941, was based in San Francisco, flew along the coast and California's Central Valley, linking cities from Medford, Oregon, to southern California. Pacific operated Boeing 727-100s and Fairchild F-27s in 1968.
- Bonanza Air Lines routes reached west from its Phoenix base to southern California and north to Las Vegas, Reno, and Salt Lake City. Bonanza flew Douglas DC-9-10s and Fairchild F-27s in 1968, with a DC-9-30 on order, delivered after the merger.
- West Coast Airlines, based at Boeing Field in Seattle, served the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Utah, Montana, and northern California. West Coast operated DC-9-10s, F-27s, and Piper Navajos in 1968.
The initial Air West fleet included Boeing 727-100s, Douglas DC-9s, Fairchild F-27s, and Piper Navajos. The first new addition to the Air West fleet was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, which had been ordered by Bonanza Air Lines.
Hungry for another adventure in the airline industry, TWA's former owner Howard Hughes sought the airline in 1968,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AclOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6917,2603821 |newspaper=Deseret News|location=(Salt Lake City, Utah)|title=Hughes may buy Air West|agency=UPI|date=August 12, 1968|page=6C}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=avFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5028,5643083 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator|location=(Ohio)|last=Arnold|first=Patrick|agency=Associated Press|title=Hughes charged with stock fraud|page=1|date=July 31, 1974}} and the US$90 million deal was finalized in April 1970.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c2NOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4762,111916|newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record|location=(Washington)|agency=UPI|title=Air West purchase almost completed|date=April 2, 1970|page=8}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bKxVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5429%2C529044|work=Eugene Register-Guard|location=(Oregon)|agency=UPI|title=Hughes completes dealings for airline|date=April 3, 1970|page=3A}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gZNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4887%2C1368816 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Air West taken over by Hughes |date=April 4, 1970 |page=2}} Renamed Hughes Air West, its call sign became "Hughes Air," and the airline expanded to several cities in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the new yellow paint scheme, unveiled in September 1971, the airline began calling itself Hughes Airwest, two words instead of the initial three.
The airline participated in some movies in the 1970s, notably The Gauntlet with Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke in 1977. Eastwood's character arrives in Las Vegas from Phoenix on the airline and when he phones the airport for flight departure times, Locke's character sarcastically called the airline, "Air Worst." Also in 1977, the airline was operating service from both Burbank (BUR) and Orange County (SNA) to Denver (DEN) via an interchange flight agreement with the original Frontier Airlines.http://www.departedflights.com, 1977 Frontier Airlines Annual Report, route map Hughes Airwest soon introduced its own jet service to Denver from a number of locations.
Like other local service airlines in the 1970s, Hughes Airwest eliminated many stops and opened longer routes. Service expanded to resorts in Mexico; domestic routes didn't reach east of Utah and Arizona until Denver, Des Moines, Milwaukee, and Houston Hobby Airport were added in 1978. When it ended F-27 turboprop flights in 1979, Hughes Airwest became an all-jet airline with 727-200s, DC-9-10s, and DC-9-30s.
In September 1979, the airline was grounded for two months by a walkout by their ticket agents, reservations handlers, and office employees, who had been without a contract for over a year.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I1tOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3870,2548519|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|title=Airwest strike effect minimal|date=September 11, 1979|page=5}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pKtfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6097,5417915|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=No talks in Airwest strike|date=September 29, 1979|page=2A}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_2VJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2737,2413684|newspaper=News and Courier|location=Charleston, SC|agency=Associated Press|title=Hughes Airwest flights resume after strike|date=November 11, 1979|page=2A}} During 1979, several airlines showed interest in buying Hughes Airwest, including Alaska and Allegheny, with the latter soon becoming USAir.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UspeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2244,42763|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=Airwest entertains offers to sell|date=October 1, 1979 |page=1B}} The strike was resolved in late October and flights resumed in November. Four months later they were the target of a buyout by Republic Airlines,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ImcaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6372,680158|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal|agency=(Los Angeles Times)|title=Republic looking at Airwest|date=March 12, 1980|page=17}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} which was finalized on October 1, 1980, for $38.5 million.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TYBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5524%2C2361030 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Republic Airlines get CAB approval for Hughes merger |date=September 13, 1980 |page=7, part 2}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nU9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=4904,125218 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review|title=Hughes name changes|agency=Associated Press|date=October 1, 1980|page=A23}} Minneapolis-based Republic had formed in July 1979 via the merger of North Central Airlines and Southern Airways, the first under airline deregulation.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZHlQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3952,818124|newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel|agency=UPI|title=North Central, Southern Airlines merger gets final OK from Carter|date=June 5, 1979|page=5-part 2}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wY4qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JVwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4391%2C2298202|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|agency=UPI |title=Carter okays airline merger |date=June 5, 1979|page=A-14}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1KNJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eIQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6212%2C2083038 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |location=(Ohio)|agency=Associated Press |title=Carter okays merger of 2 airlines |date=June 5, 1979|page=21}}
Republic was acquired by Northwest Airlines in 1986,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U_4lAAAAIBAJ&pg=4195%2C133082|newspaper=Miami News|agency=Associated Press|title=Northwest-Republic merger creates third-largest carrier|date=August 1, 1986|page=9A}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x3ozAAAAIBAJ&pg=5454,87554|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|title=Two airlines get approval for merger|date=August 1, 1986|page=1C }} which merged into Delta Air Lines in 2010.
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Revenue Passenger-Miles (Millions) |+(Sched Service Only) | ||||
| Pacific/RW | Bonanza | West Coast | Empire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" | 1951
| 26 || 7 || 11 || 9 | ||||
| scope="row" | 1955
| 47 || 23 || 35 || (merged WC) | ||||
| scope="row" | 1960
| 103 || 64 || 93 | ||||
| scope="row" | 1965
| 138 || 170 || 122 | ||||
| scope="row" | 1970
| 893 || colspan=2|(merged 1968) | ||||
| scope="row" | 1975
| 1497 |
Corporate affairs
File:AW9 Air West (5920250419) (2).jpg
File:Hughes Airwest McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 Silagi-1.jpg
The original headquarters were in two buildings in downtown San Mateo, California, on the San Francisco peninsula.
Its new headquarters were located in San Mateo.Standard & Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives, Volume 3. Standard & Poor's, 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=zucVAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Hughes+Airwest%22+%22Clearview+Way%22 638]. "Hughes Air Corp d/b/a Hughes Airwest Airlines, 3125 Clearview Way, San Mateo, Cal." The airline scheduled the move to a new headquarters in late August 1973; the complex was on a hill overlooking San Mateo and San Francisco Bay. The airline relocated two departments from the offices at San Francisco International Airport: flight control and reservations."[http://www.hughesairwest.com/PDF/73-newsletter-aug.pdf 'Big Move' under way to new international headquarters in San Mateo]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140202195740/http://www.hughesairwest.com/PDF/73-newsletter-aug.pdf Archive]) Hughes Airwest newsletter. August 1973. Vol. 5, No. 8. p. 1.
= Livery =
Hughes Airwest's planes were recognizable by their banana-yellow fuselage and tail colors.Hughes promoted their new colors as "Sundance Yellow" and "Universe Blue." The blue has sometimes been described as purple, but this is an optical illusion when viewed on the yellow expanse of aircraft hull. Since these were not standards-compliant color names, the exact color values are uncertain, and can only be approximated by examining color photographs of Hughes Airwest aircraft. Their airplanes were often dubbed "flying bananas" and the airline launched an advertising campaign with the catchphrase "Top Banana in the West."{{cite journal|journal=AOPA Pilot|date=July 2011}} Most nicknames given to Hughes Airwest airplanes in aviation books and magazines have to do with bananas. Apart from their all-yellow scheme, the airplanes also featured a blue logo on the vertical stabilizer (tail) that resembled three diamonds connected (possibly a reference to the initials of Howard Hughes). The name Hughes Airwest, in stylized lettering, was featured unconventionally below the front passenger windows.
This livery was devised by the southern California design firm of Mario Armond Zamparelli,{{Cite web|url=http://www.marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/awards.html|title=Mario Armond Zamparelli|access-date=January 19, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304004126/http://www.marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/awards.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/P2-1.html|title=Mario Armond Zamparelli|access-date=January 19, 2011|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305063011/http://marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/p2-1.html|url-status=dead}} following the crash of Flight 706 in June 1971, caused by a mid-air collision with a U.S. Marine Corps F-4B jet fighter near Duarte, California.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L_9JAAAAIBAJ&pg=3342,1566932|newspaper=Modesto Bee|agency=Associated Press|title=L.A. jetliner, fighter crash in air; 50 die|date=June 7, 1971|page=A-1 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZYBfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6306%2C1562101|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title='Airliner hit us,' survivor says after mid-air collision|date=June 8, 1971|page=6}} In late 1971, the company launched a new marketing campaign which included new colors and repainted planes.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dMkdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5314%2C6199169|newspaper=Deseret News|title=Airwest makes colorful changes|date=October 27, 1971|page=B-5}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19711122&id=CLwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914,2071410|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|title=Profit seen by Airwest|date=November 22, 1971|page=5}}{{cite news|url=http://newspaper.twinfallspubliclibrary.org/files/Times-News_TF284/PDF/1971_11_26.pdf|newspaper=(Twin Falls, ID) Times-News|title=Airwest unveils bright new look|date=November 26, 1971|page=7|access-date=January 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001655/http://newspaper.twinfallspubliclibrary.org/files/Times-News_TF284/PDF/1971_11_26.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} The cabin windows also had a metallized PET film coating originally,{{cite web|url=http://www.hughesairwest.com/PDF/71-newsletter-oct.pdf|publisher=Hughes Air Corp. (co. newsletter)|title=New look is first step in '72 marketing program|date=October 1971|page=1}} but this proved too costly to maintain. Zamparelli also designed the uniforms of the flight attendants in the new colors, primarily in Sundance Yellow trimmed with Universe Blue.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MvAjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5473%2C2952345 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=(photo) |title=Airlines new stewardess uniforms |date=November 23, 1971 |page=26 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/pre-flight-primp|publisher=Museum of Flight|title=Pre-flight Primp: Hughes Airwest Flight Attendant Uniforms|access-date=January 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615070203/http://www.museumofflight.org/pre-flight-primp|archive-date=June 15, 2014}}
After the sale in October 1980 the all-yellow paint scheme was gradually replaced by Republic's white with blue and green trim. Aircraft tails bore Republic's flying mallard, "Herman the Duck."
Fleet
Air West and Hughes Airwest operated the following aircraft types at various times during their existence:{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Air%20West.html|title=Air West fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Hughes Airwest fleet |
| Aircraft
!Total !Introduced !Retired !Notes |
|---|
| Boeing 727-193
|3 |1968 |1972 | |
| Boeing 727-200
|11 |1976 |1980 | |
| Douglas C-47A Skytrain
|7 |1968 |1969 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14
|5 |1970 |1980 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15RC
|12 |1973 |1980 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
|30 |1970 |1980 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
|2 |1971 |1980 | |
| Fairchild F-27
|34 |1968 |1980 | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo
|4 |1968 |1970 | |
Destinations
=Air West in July 1968=
This is a list of destinations taken from the Air West system timetable dated July 1, 1968, when the merger to form Air West became effective.http://www.timetableimages.com, July 1, 1986, Air West system timetable Cities served with jets are noted in bold. Air West was operating Boeing 727-100, Douglas DC-9-10, and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets, as well as Fairchild F-27 turboprops and small Piper Navajo twin props at this time. The majority of the destinations on this list that did not have jet service were served with F-27 twin turboprops.
ARIZONA:
- Grand Canyon (GCN)
- Kingman (IGM)
- Page (PGA)
- Phoenix (PHX): Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport - Hub
- Prescott (PRC)
- Tucson (TUS)
- Yuma (YUM)
CALIFORNIA:
* Bakersfield (BFL)
|
|
|
IDAHO:
- Boise (BOI) - Hub
- Burley/Rupert (BYI)
- Idaho Falls (IDA)
- Lewiston (LWS)
- Pocatello (PIH)
- Twin Falls (TWF)
- Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN)
MONTANA:
- Great Falls (GTF)
- Kalispell (FCA)
NEVADA:
- Las Vegas (LAS): McCarran International Airport - Hub
- Reno (RNO)
OREGON:
* Albany/Corvallis (CVO)
|
|
UTAH:
- Cedar City (CDC)
- Salt Lake City (SLC): Salt Lake City International Airport - Hub
WASHINGTON:
* Aberdeen/Hoquiam (HQM)
|
|
CANADA:
- Calgary, Alberta (YYC): Calgary International Airport
MEXICO:
- La Paz (LAP)
- Mazatlan (MZT)
- Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
- Guadalajara (GDL)
- Guaymas (GYM)
= Hughes Airwest in September 1980 =
In 1980, Hughes Airwest was an all-jet airline operating Boeing 727-200, Douglas DC-9-10, and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 aircraft. The timetable for September 1 lists service to:http://www.departedflights.com, September 1, 1980, Hughes Airwest system timetable
ARIZONA:
- Grand Canyon (GCN)
- Phoenix (PHX): Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport - Hub
- Tucson (TUS)
CALIFORNIA:
* Burbank (BUR): Bob Hope Airport
|
|
COLORADO:
- Denver (DEN): Stapleton International Airport
IDAHO:
- Boise (BOI) - Hub
- Idaho Falls
- Lewiston
- Pocatello
- Twin Falls
IOWA:
- Des Moines
MONTANA:
- Kalispell
NEVADA:
- Las Vegas (LAS): McCarran International Airport - Hub
- Reno
OREGON:
- Eugene
- Klamath Falls
- Portland (PDX): Portland International Airport
- Redmond/Bend
TEXAS:
- Houston (HOU): William P. Hobby Airport
UTAH:
- Salt Lake City (SLC): Salt Lake City International Airport - Hub
WASHINGTON:
- Pasco/Kennewick/Richland (Tri-Cities Airport)
- Seattle (SEA): Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - Hub
- Spokane
- Yakima
WISCONSIN:
- Milwaukee
CANADA:
- Calgary, Alberta (YYC): Calgary International Airport
- Edmonton, Alberta (YEG): Edmonton International Airport
MEXICO:
- Manzanillo
- Mazatlan
- Puerto Vallarta
Accidents and incidents
=1971 – Flight 706=
{{Main|Hughes Airwest Flight 706}}
On the evening of Sunday, June 6, 1971, Flight 706, a Douglas DC-9-31 collided in mid-air with a U.S. Marine Corps F-4B fighter over southern California near Duarte. All 49 on the airliner and the F-4 pilot were killed; the sole survivor was the F-4 radar intercept officer. Flight 706 had departed Los Angeles for Seattle, with five intermediate stops, the first in Salt Lake City.
=1972 – Flight 800 hijacking=
Two months after the hijacking by D. B. Cooper of Northwest Orient flight 305, Hughes Airwest was the target of a copycat hijacker in early 1972.{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Nab skyjacker after leap |page=1, sec. 1 |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/01/21/page/1/article/nab-skyjacker-after-leap}}{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Hijacker caught after parachuting over Colorado with $50,000 in cash |page=1 |newspaper=Lewiston Daily Sun |agency=Associated Press |location=(Maine) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M5UgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1442%2C2185479}}{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=This hijacker fails |page=A1 |work=Deseret News |agency=UPI |location=(Salt Lake City, Utah) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mdZjAAAAIBAJ&pg=6620%2C4063000}} After boarding Flight 800 at McCarran airport in Las Vegas in late morning on Thursday, January 20, 23-year-old Richard Charles LaPoint claimed he had a bomb while the plane was on the taxiway and demanded $50,000 cash, two parachutes, and a helmet.{{cite news |last=Miniclier |first=Kit |date=January 21, 2001 |title=Skyjacker a Colorado oddity? |newspaper=Denver Post |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0121g.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=February 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424062530/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0121g.htm |archive-date=April 24, 2014}} When these demands were met, 51 Reno-bound passengers and two flight attendants were released; the DC-9 departed eastward toward Denver, followed by two F-111 aircraft of the U.S. Air Force from nearby Nellis AFB.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel L. |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Parachutist hijacker captured |page=3A |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=UPI |location=(Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wthVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6730%2C4283362}} The parachutes were high-visibility and equipped with emergency locator devices.
Without a coat and in cowboy boots, the hijacker bailed out from the lower aft door over the treeless plains of northeastern Colorado in mid-afternoon. LaPoint was apprehended a few hours later,{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Chuting hijacker caught by police |page=1 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=(Spokane, Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=je9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586%2C1917285}} with minor injuries and very cold.{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Hijacker with $50,000 loot captured after bailing out |page=1 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P_IdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2850%2C8504 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Hijacker foiled; tracked by jets |page=19 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=(Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CLVYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5884%2C1649602}} The plane, with two pilots and a flight attendant on board, landed safely at Denver's Stapleton airport at 2:55 p.m. MST. Facing potential death penalty charges for air piracy,{{cite news |date=January 22, 1972 |title=Hijack figure held without bail |page=1 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_bdeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4216,4324876}} the Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Army paratrooper{{cite news |date=January 22, 1972 |title=Ex-paratrooper is charged with piracy in hijack bid |page=5, sec. 1 |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/01/22/page/21/article/ex-paratrooper-is-charged-with-piracy-in-hijack-bid}} was sentenced to forty years, but served less than eight, and was released from a halfway house in 1979; he died at age 60 in his native New Hampshire in 2008.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.hughesairwest.com/ Hughes Airwest enthusiast site] — hughesairwest.com
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Category:Airlines established in 1968
Category:Airlines disestablished in 1980
Category:Defunct airlines of the United States
Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area
Category:1980 disestablishments in California