On November 24, 1971, a man known only as "D.B. Cooper" hijacked a plane, secured a $200,000 ransom, and vanished into history by parachuting out mid-flight. Over 50 years later, his identity and fate remain unknown
"A Thanksgiving Eve Hijacking"
On the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a man using the alias "Dan Cooper" boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in Portland, Oregon, bound for Seattle, Washington. Described as polite and calm, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase.
Cooper demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel truck ready to refuel the plane upon arrival in Seattle. Authorities complied with his demands, delivering the ransom and parachutes while releasing the 36 passengers onboard. Only the flight crew remained as Cooper directed the plane to take off again, heading toward Mexico City.
"The Great Escape"
Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, somewhere over the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, Cooper opened the rear staircase of the Boeing 727 and jumped into the night with the ransom money and a parachute. The flight crew landed the plane safely, but Cooper was gone, leaving behind only a clip-on tie.
Despite an exhaustive search by law enforcement and the FBI, no trace of Cooper or the money was found in the immediate aftermath.
"Clues and Dead Ends"
The case yielded some intriguing but inconclusive discoveries:
Ransom Bills: In 1980, a boy found $5,800 in deteriorated $20 bills along the Columbia River, confirmed to be part of the ransom money. How it ended up there remains a mystery.
Physical Evidence: Cooper’s tie, recovered from the plane, has undergone DNA testing, but no matches have been made.
Numerous suspects have been investigated, but none definitively matched Cooper's profile.
"Theories About Cooper’s Fate"
Theories about D.B. Cooper’s fate vary widely:
Survived the Jump: Some believe Cooper survived and started a new life, evading capture with remarkable skill.
Perished in the Wilderness: Others argue that Cooper likely died in the rugged terrain, unable to navigate the harsh conditions.
Professional Criminal: Speculation persists that Cooper had prior experience as a paratrooper or was part of a larger criminal network.
"Impact and Legacy"
The D.B. Cooper hijacking marked a turning point in aviation security. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated significant changes, including the installation of “Cooper Vanes” to prevent mid-flight staircase openings and stricter airport security screenings.
The case remains a cultural phenomenon, inspiring books, documentaries, and movies. It is the only unsolved case of air piracy in U.S. history.
"A Mystery That Endures"
In 2016, the FBI officially closed its investigation, but amateur sleuths and enthusiasts continue to analyze evidence, hoping to uncover the truth.
D.B. Cooper’s daring heist and enigmatic disappearance have made him a legend, and his case continues to captivate the imagination of people around the world.