Who is D.B. Cooper? On November 24, 1971, one of the most mysterious and daring crimes in U.S. history occurred. A man using the name “Dan Cooper” boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 at Portland International Airport. This flight was heading to Seattle, a short trip of about 30 minutes. What started as an ordinary flight turned into one of the FBI’s longest-running unsolved cases.
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The Hijacker: A Calm and Mysterious Passenger
Dan Cooper was described as an unremarkable man. He was Caucasian, in his mid-40s, with short dark hair and a receding hairline. He wore a dark suit, black tie, white shirt, and sunglasses. He carried a briefcase and sat in seat 18E in the last row of the plane.
Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner. Initially, she didn’t read it and tucked it into her pocket. Cooper calmly told her, “You might want to read that note.” The message was chilling:
“I have a bomb, and I’d like you to sit next to me.”
When she sat beside him, Cooper opened his briefcase, revealing what appeared to be eight sticks of dynamite, wires, and a battery. He made his demands clear: $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel truck ready to refuel the plane when it landed in Seattle.
The Plane Circles Seattle
Cooper’s demands were relayed to the cockpit, and the pilots informed air traffic control. Since it was a short flight, the plane circled Seattle for about two hours while authorities gathered the ransom money and parachutes.
During this time, the FBI recorded the serial numbers on each of the $20 bills, bundling the $200,000 into a bank bag. By 5:46 PM, the plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Cooper allowed Florence Schaffner, 35 passengers, and two flight attendants to leave in exchange for the money and parachutes.
Back in the Air: A Strange Flight Plan
After receiving the ransom, Cooper instructed the remaining crew to fly to Mexico City. However, he had specific and unusual demands:
- The plane had to fly under 10,000 feet.
- The landing gear had to remain down.
- The wing flaps had to be set at a 15-degree angle.
- The speed couldn’t exceed 200 miles per hour.
The crew explained that such conditions were risky, but Cooper insisted.
The Boeing 727, a unique aircraft with a rear staircase, was chosen for the hijacking because it allowed him to exit mid-flight.
The Jump: Into the Night
At 7:40 PM, the plane took off with Cooper and four crew members. Around 8:00 PM, he lowered the rear air stairs. The pilot felt the change in cabin pressure and realized Cooper had opened the door. At some point, Cooper jumped into the dark, freezing skies of Washington with a parachute and the money.
When the plane landed safely in Reno, Nevada, authorities searched it. Cooper was gone. He had vanished without a trace.
The Investigation
The FBI immediately launched a massive investigation. Authorities interviewed passengers and crew, gathered evidence from the plane, and searched the suspected jump zone.
Key Evidence
- Black clip-on tie and tie clip: Left behind by Cooper.
- Cigarette butts: Found in his seat.
- Latent fingerprints: 66 prints were collected but yielded no matches.
- Two parachutes: He took two and left two behind.
Despite their efforts, investigators faced significant challenges. Fingerprint databases were primitive in 1971, and DNA testing was not available. The hijacker left no solid clues about his identity.
Where Did Cooper Go?
Authorities believed Cooper jumped somewhere in southwestern Washington, near the dense forests of Ariel and Woodland. Determining his exact landing spot was nearly impossible due to factors like wind speed, weather, and the plane’s precise location when he jumped.
The FBI worked with the military and local law enforcement to search a massive area. Helicopters, ground troops, and even submarines were used to find evidence. The Air Force provided an SR-71 Blackbird to retrace the plane’s flight path.
Despite these efforts, no trace of Cooper or the money was found.
The Legend of D.B. Cooper
A week after the hijacking, the FBI released a composite sketch of Cooper based on eyewitness accounts. This image became iconic, sparking “Cooper Mania.”
Many admired him as a folk hero who outsmarted the system. Over the years, thousands of tips poured in, and countless people claimed to be D.B. Cooper. The FBI had to sift through false leads and confessions, but none led to the hijacker’s true identity.
Theories and Discoveries
Did He Survive?
Experts are divided. Some believe he couldn’t have survived:
- He jumped into a storm at night without knowing the terrain.
- The parachute he used wasn’t steerable.
- The area was heavily forested and dangerous.
Others argue he planned the jump carefully and might have survived.
Found Money
In 1980, a young boy found $5,800 in decayed $20 bills near the Columbia River. The serial numbers matched the ransom money, but no other bills were ever recovered.
Case Closed?
In 2016, after 45 years, the FBI officially closed the D.B. Cooper case. They acknowledged the lack of new evidence and decided to focus on other priorities.
However, the public’s fascination hasn’t waned. Amateur investigators and “Cooperites” continue to analyze clues and develop theories.
Conclusion
The D.B. Cooper hijacking remains one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Was he an expert skydiver, or did he meet his end in the wilderness? Where is the rest of the money? Who was he?
These questions keep the legend of D.B. Cooper alive, inspiring books, documentaries, and endless speculation. The man who vanished with $200,000 left behind more than an empty plane—he left behind a mystery that endures to this day.
