Elected through Terror

Untitled Part 50

Now, for a bit of information that I received, directly from the pilot, a few years later:

I met him while I was a member of an informational committee sent around the state to meet with US Congressmen to tell them what the North Deschutes River Management agreement contained.

A lot of work had been done, a committee made up of over 20 agencies and private citizens, representing groups such as river guides, fishing organizations, etc. met several times over several years discussing the issues, gathering information and coming to a consensus of how the River should be managed.

I was the representative from Wasco County on the Committee. I was asked to participate in the meetings with Congressmen and/or their staff. Others on that committee to give the presentation were from the State, from the Bureau of Land Management and a couple other people that I cannot recall.

We wanted to get the information out quickly and in one day, so we rode in a BLM contracted jet – the pilot that flew us that day was the one that flew Rajneesh, off of the ranch, in 1985.

He told me his firm received the call and he was assigned. He arrived at the ranch early that day.

The followers quickly removed some seats and installed the Rajneesh's personal chair – a throne like he used while seated to lecture his followers in the 'green house.'

He said that the Rajneesh was high on something. It was known that he partook of Nitrous oxide, laughing gas, on a regular basis in the privacy of the compound. The pilot didn't know what he was on, but he didn't think that was it, because it lasted for several hours.

They flew out of the ranch and headed South East. Almost immediately the followers were asking him to fly to Bermuda (or the Bahamas I can't recall which), they wanted Rajneesh out of country.

He told them that he couldn't do it. First he didn't have enough fuel. Second an over water flight required two pilots and he was the only one on board. Three, equipment mandated for flights over large bodies of water, in case of a crashing into the water, was not part of the equipment on the jet and would have to be secured before they could fly out of the country.

Regardless he would have to land in South Carolina to fuel because he had insufficient fuel to fly that far.

The jet was being tracked; I have heard there were a couple of Air Force jets that accompanied him – without the pilot's knowledge. And, what is probably more likely, I have heard the FAA tracked them as they flew cross country. Either way, the agencies knew where he was at all times.

Upon landing at Charleston the pilot found himself staring down a rifle barrel aimed at him by a deputy. The local authorities knew of the weapons the Rajneesh had access to and were not going to take any chances.

The authorities kept telling him to get his hands up, he kept telling them he had to shut down the plane and eventually they let him.

The authorities took Rajneesh into custody and placed him in a cell.

At the time, the pilot said, he wore his hair long and had a beard. The company jacket he had on was red – one of the Rajneesh colors. The pilot went into the cell right along with Rajneesh – they thought he was part of the commune.

He stated that Rajneesh was out of it making unintelligible statements, he remained that way for several hours, and he still was not completely lucid when the pilot was finally released after a few hours later.

The pilot's story checked out. He flew back home.