The person at the center of this case
Catherine Marie Kerkow (wanted fugitive)
Cold Case · Open
53 years waiting · since 1972
CATHERINE MARIE KERKOW
Justice for Catherine Marie Kerkow (wanted fugitive) — the trail went cold in 1972, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1Where has Catherine Marie Kerkow been since receiving political asylum in Algeria in 1972?
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contact
Lead #2Kerkow has known ties to Oregon, France, Switzerland, Algeria, Jordan, and Cuba—which location might she have relocated to?
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evidence
Lead #3What happened to the attache case claimed to contain a bomb during the hijacking?
On June 3, 1972, Catherine Marie Kerkow and an accomplice hijacked Western Airlines Flight 701 from Los Angeles to Seattle, claiming to have a bomb and demanding $500,000. After releasing 97 passengers in San Francisco, the hijackers flew to Algeria where they received political asylum. Kerkow's accomplice was eventually extradited to the United States, but Kerkow disappeared and her current whereabouts remain unknown despite a federal arrest warrant issued in 1972.
Case
#677
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4How did Kerkow and her accomplice obtain fake passports used for their 1975 arrest in France?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Air Piracy Caution: Catherine Marie Kerkow is wanted for her alleged involvement in the hijacking of Western Airlines Flight 701 which was to fly from Los Angeles, California, to Seattle, Washington, on June 3, 1972. A member of the Black Panthers, Kerkow and an accomplice claimed they had a bomb in an attache case and demanded $500,000.
After allowing the 97 passengers to get off the plane in San Francisco, California, Kerkow and her accomplice flew to Algeria where they were granted political asylum. On January 25, 1975, the two hijackers, using fake passports, were arrested on illegal entry charges in France.
Kerkow's accomplice was eventually extradited to the United States, but Kerkow's whereabouts remain unknown. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Kerkow in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, on June 5, 1972, after she was charged with air piracy.
Remarks: Kerkow is known to speak English and French. She may have ties to Oregon, France, Switzerland, Algeria, Jordan, and Cuba.
Timeline of Events
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1972-06-03
Western Airlines Flight 701 Hijacking
Catherine Marie Kerkow and accomplice hijacked Flight 701 from Los Angeles, claiming to have a bomb and demanding $500,000
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1972-06-03
Passengers Released in San Francisco
97 passengers were allowed to disembark in San Francisco; hijackers continued to Algeria
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1972-06-05
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
Federal arrest warrant issued in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York for air piracy charges
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1975-01-25
Accomplice Arrested in France
Kerkow's accomplice arrested in France on illegal entry charges using fake passports; later extradited to United States
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:June 3, 1972
Last Updated:May 10, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:June 3, 1972
Last Updated:May 10, 2026