In 1972, Richard Floyd McCoy, Jr., a Vietnam veteran and skilled skydiver, hijacked a United Airlines flight, demanding a hefty ransom before parachuting from the plane over Utah. This is how the FBI tracked him down.
The Hijacking:
On April 7, 1972, United Airlines Flight 855, a Boeing 727 with 85 passengers and a crew of six, resumed its flight from Denver, Colorado, on its way from Newark to Los Angeles. About 20 minutes after takeoff, at 5:18 p.m., a male passenger was spotted sitting with a hand grenade in his lap.
The plane’s stewardess was immediately notified and informed the captain. An off-duty pilot, who was traveling as a passenger, was asked to discreetly assess the situation. When he approached the suspect, the man drew a pistol and handed over a sealed envelope marked “hijack instructions,” demanding it be given to the captain. The off-duty pilot returned to his seat as the crew absorbed the gravity of the situation.
The captain, William Olinsky (a fictitious name used to protect his identity), decided to announce a "minor mechanical problem" over the public address system and prepared to land at Grand Junction, Colorado. However, after reading the hijacker’s demands—which included landing at San Francisco International Airport, $500,000 in cash, four parachutes, and specific handling procedures for vehicles and personnel near the plane—the captain decided to comply for the safety of everyone on board.
As Flight 855 approached San Francisco, normal operations continued. When the plane landed, the crew received two flight bags filled with $500,000 and four parachutes. After refueling, the hijacker released the passengers and one stewardess. He then ordered the rest of the crew into the cockpit and positioned himself at the rear of the plane.
The hijacker used the intercom to give a new set of flight instructions: the plane was to head east, climb to 16,000 feet, and fly at exactly 200 mph, passing over several small Utah towns. As the plane continued on course, the hijacker dressed in a jumpsuit, helmet, and parachute, preparing to make his escape. The cabin was depressurized, and the hijacker warned the crew that if he saw any pursuit planes, he would detonate a hidden explosive device after jumping. The last note from the hijacker came just before the plane passed over its final Utah checkpoint.
When the crew received no further communication, a stewardess ventured into the passenger area and confirmed that the hijacker had indeed jumped into the Utah night sky, disappearing with the ransom money.
The Investigation:
As soon as Flight 855 landed in Salt Lake City, FBI agents began their investigation. The plane was combed for evidence, and anything the hijacker might have touched—seat belts, cigarette butts, a copy of “Mainliner Magazine”—was collected. A handwritten note that the hijacker had forgotten to take with him was sent to the FBI Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for analysis.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Peter Fanning (a fictitious name) stumbled upon a parachute near Provo, Utah. His discovery gave investigators a critical clue to the hijacker’s escape route. Agents and local law enforcement combed the area but initially found no further evidence.
Then came a breakthrough: a local resident called the FBI, stating that an acquaintance of his had spoken about a "foolproof" plan for hijacking an airplane. The man in question was Richard Floyd McCoy, Jr., a Vietnam War helicopter pilot, skilled skydiver, and member of the Utah Air National Guard. McCoy was known to be in financial distress, which raised suspicion. FBI agents located McCoy and interviewed him. Though he denied involvement in the hijacking, he voluntarily provided a handwriting sample.
Simultaneously, FBI forensic experts were hard at work analyzing the evidence. A handwriting expert matched the note left on the plane to McCoy’s military records. Additionally, a fingerprint from the “Mainliner Magazine” found next to the hijacker’s seat matched McCoy’s service record.
Witnesses also placed McCoy near the scene. An employee at a local burger stand remembered serving him a milkshake the night of the hijacking, and a teenager confirmed that McCoy had paid him five dollars for a ride into town.
The Arrest and Trial:
With mounting evidence, FBI agents arrested McCoy on April 9, 1972, at his Provo home. A search of the house revealed skydiving gear, an electric typewriter (whose impressions matched the hijack instructions), and nearly all the ransom money—$499,970.
McCoy was charged with aircraft piracy and interference with flight crew members. Despite his insistence of innocence, he was found guilty in U.S. District Court two months later and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He appealed his conviction all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied his petition in 1973, sealing his fate.
Richard Floyd McCoy, Jr.'s story highlights how war and trauma can deeply affect mental health. As a Vietnam veteran, McCoy likely faced struggles that may have influenced his actions. Experiences like these can leave lasting scars, often pushing people to their limits. It's important to recognize that seeking help isn't always easy - whether due to stigma, lack of resources, or personal discomfort. We need to make mental health support more accessible and normalize getting help, so no one has to struggle in silence.
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