The Young Hippies Who Hijacked a Plane
Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Hosted by Harvey Guillén
- 38m
- Transcript
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
In June 1972, a twenty-year-old college dropout named Kathy and her twenty-two-year-old veteran boyfriend Roger hatched a daring plan to hijack a commercial airplane. Motivated by a mix of genuine political radicalism, financial desperation, and a desire to free activist Angela Davis, the couple boarded a Western Airlines flight and successfully executed what became the longest hijacking on record. Their bizarre odyssey took them from Seattle and San Francisco to New York, Algeria, and eventually France, featuring ransom demands, fake explosives, and encounters with Black Panther leaders.
Despite stealing three million dollars and demanding asylum, their grand revolutionary vision quickly unraveled. Angela Davis refused to support them, Algerian officials confiscated their ransom money, and their relationship deteriorated amidst Roger's severe PTSD and alcoholism. Years later in Paris, after Roger accidentally confessed his crimes to police while drunk, the couple faced French courts where Kathy reinvented herself as a revolutionary folk hero and avoided extradition, while Roger spiraled into obscurity before returning to the United States for an eventual prison sentence. Kathy ultimately vanished without a trace, leaving behind a legacy as the ultimate ghost who successfully deleted her past.
- Before attempting a plane hijacking, Roger meticulously studied past crimes, mapped out airport security, and scouted routes. 7:08
- The hijackers attempted to fund their new lives and support political causes by demanding a three-million-dollar ransom. 13:10
- Upon arriving in Algeria, the couple discovered that their briefcase contained no actual explosives and was entirely a bluff. 26:56
- Roger was deemed unfit to stand trial in France due to his severe mental state and PTSD. 33:25
Chapters
- 0:06Intro: Mythic Plane Hijack Premise
Harvey introduces the mythic narrative of young rebels hijacking a plane to make a statement.
- 1:55Kathy and Roger Meet Angela Davis
The lovebirds, fans of Angela Davis, plan to use a hijacking to free her.
- 6:55Planning the Hijack
Roger researches past hijackings, devises a bomb bluff, and prepares logistics.
- 8:04Executing the Plan
The couple hijacks a flight, demands ransom, and attempts to fly to North Vietnam.
- 20:57Plan Foiled, New Destination
Angela refuses help; the hijackers redirect to North Africa instead of Vietnam.
- 22:21Algerian Reception and Fallout
Algerian officials confiscate the ransom, deny asylum, and the hijackers become political symbols.
- 31:26Life in France and Decline
The couple settles in Paris, faces mental health issues, and their relationship deteriorates.
- 33:15Legal Outcomes and Legacy
Roger is deemed unfit for trial; Kathy becomes a celebrated figure while Roger fades into obscurity.
- 34:50Kathy’s Vanishing Act
Kathy disappears from the public eye, leaving Roger alone and the story a ghost narrative.
- 36:29Closing Reflections
Harvey reflects on the myth versus reality, the fate of the hijackers, and the enduring legend.
Highlights
- 5:10
Roger proposes marriage to Kathy at a fancy seafood restaurant, but instead of a ring, he asks her to hijack a plane with him.
- 5:58
During the 1960s and 1970s, aircraft hijackings were remarkably common in the United States, with over 150 recorded incidents.
- 15:19
Unusual Hijacking Outfitsstory
On the morning of the crime, Kathy chooses purple pants, a pink blouse, and a handmade retro belt, while Roger wears his military uniform.
- 16:16
Trading Tickets at the Barstory
After their check bounces at the ticket counter, Kathy successfully trades an unused round-trip ticket from her father for two seats to Seattle.
- 18:50
Demanding Freedom and Ransomstrategy
Roger takes over the cockpit using a briefcase bluff and demands a three-million-dollar ransom, parachutes, and Angela Davis on the runway.
- 32:21
A Drunk Confession in Parisstory
Living in exile in Paris years later, a heavily intoxicated Roger confesses his entire hijacking past to local police officers at a station.
- 34:54
Vanishing Without a Traceinsight
In 1978, Kathy suddenly disappears from Paris without leaving a note or contacting anyone, never to be seen or heard from again.
Quotes
“The one where two nobodies decide they're actually somebodies and they go on a run to prove it.”
Harvey Guillén · 0:11 “You just needed some luggage and the belief that a thousand feet of altitude could wash away your past.”
Harvey Guillén · 0:47 “They wanted to do something so loud the whole world would have to stop and listen.”
Harvey Guillén · 1:03 “All the criminals are doing it, yeah.”
Harvey Guillén · 5:56 “They were young. They were broke. And they were convinced that a grand gesture could fix a broken world.”
Harvey Guillén · 1:11
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About this episode
In 1972, two young hippies hijack a commercial airplane in a wild attempt to free a famous political activist from jail, setting off one of the strangest, most idealistic crimes of a radical era. Sources for this episode include: The Skies Belong to Us: Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking by Brendan I. Koerner “Convicted Hijacker Arrested in New Plot” (LA Times) “Black Panther Extradited to the US” (NYTimes) “Skyjacked: A Nation With No Airline Security” (CNN) Keep up with Killer Stories! Instagram: @killerstoriespodTikTok: @killerstoriespodX: @killerstorieshq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
5,682 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- San Francisco
- North Vietnam
- Algeria
- France
- Black Panthers
- San Diego
- United States
- Soledad
- Seattle
- Paris
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated