The story of D.B. Cooper is one of the most famous mysteries in American history and a staple of popular culture. It involves a man who used the alias “Dan Cooper” (later mistakenly referred to as “D.B. Cooper”) and carried out a daring airplane hijacking in 1971.
Here’s are some of the bizarre facts:
1. The Hijacking:
- Date: November 24, 1971.
- Flight: Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727 flying from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington.
- The Hijacker: A man who identified himself as “Dan Cooper” (media mistakenly referred to him as “D.B. Cooper”). He was described as a middle-aged man wearing a business suit with a black tie and white shirt. He appeared calm and well-spoken.
2. The Demand:
- Once the flight was airborne, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant, claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase. He then showed her a glimpse of wires and red colored sticks.
- He demanded $200,000 in “negotiable American currency” (worth over $1.2 million today), four parachutes (two primary and two reserve), and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the plane for a getaway.
3. The Ransom:
- The aircraft landed at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The authorities met his demands, delivering the ransom and parachutes to Cooper on the plane. In exchange, Cooper released all 36 passengers and two flight attendants.
4. The Escape:
- With only the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, and one flight attendant left on board, Cooper ordered the plane to take off and head towards Mexico City, flying at a low altitude and at a speed slower than 200 knots.
- Somewhere over the lower Cascade mountains in southwestern Washington, Cooper opened the rear airstairs of the plane and parachuted away into the night, during a rainstorm, with the ransom money. His fate remains unknown.
5. The Aftermath:
- An extensive manhunt ensued, but Cooper was never found.
- In 1980, a young boy found a decaying package containing $5,800 in twenty-dollar bills matching the serial numbers of the ransom money along the Columbia River, which brought new life to the investigation but didn’t solve the mystery.
- The FBI officially suspended its active investigation of the case in July 2016, citing a lack of actionable leads.
6. Theories and Speculations:
- Over the years, numerous theories have been proposed about Cooper’s identity and fate, including that he died during the jump or managed to escape and live a hidden life.
- The case has become part of American folklore, inspiring books, movies, and TV shows.
Despite extensive investigations by the FBI and multiple private individuals, the true identity of D.B. Cooper and what happened to him after the hijacking remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in FBI history.
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