Enigmatic D.B. Cooper: Hijacking and decades-long mystery

On a raw, cold November evening in 1971, a man vanished without a trace into the darkness over the dense forests of the northwestern United States. Shortly before, he had committed a daring hijacking, demanded a ransom of $200,000, and parachuted from the aircraft. The man, who became known by the pseudonym D.B. Cooper, was never found. Over five decades later, his identity and fate remain an unsolved mystery, cementing the D.B. Cooper case as one of history's most fascinating unsolved cases. This enigmatic escape has not only challenged the FBI for decades but has also spawned countless theories and inspired a whole culture of dedicated amateur detectives.

Aboard Flight 305: Bomb threat and demands, 1971

The drama began at 2:50 PM on November 24, 1971, when Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 took off from Portland, Oregon, bound for Seattle, Washington. Among the 37 passengers was a well-dressed man who had purchased his ticket in cash under the name "Dan Cooper." Shortly after takeoff, this man, later known as D.B. Cooper, handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner, a key witness in the case. The note contained a shocking bomb threat, and to emphasize its seriousness, he showed an attaché case containing what appeared to be a bomb. Cooper's demands were clear: $200,000 in cash – specifically in $20 bills – four parachutes, and a fuel truck ready upon landing in Seattle. While the plane circled over Puget Sound, the pilots alerted authorities, and the FBI began a frantic effort to meet the hijacker's demands.

Jump into the night: Cooper's $200,000 escape

At 5:39 PM, Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There, the ransom money and parachutes were delivered as agreed. D.B. Cooper released the civilian passengers but kept the crew hostage and ordered the plane to take off again, this time heading for Mexico City. To enable his daring escape, he specified a low altitude and reduced speed. At 8:13 PM, over southwestern Washington, D.B. Cooper jumped from the rear exit of the aircraft – a Boeing 727 – with his parachute and the money, disappearing into the dark night.

Operation NORJAK: FBI's search and evidence found

The FBI responded promptly with Operation NORJAK, an extensive search involving hundreds of agents. The suspected landing zone near the Columbia River was meticulously searched, but for nine years, no trace of D.B. Cooper or the stolen money was found. The breakthrough came in 1980 when a boy found three bundles of $20 bills at Tena Bar along the Columbia River. The serial numbers on the bills matched the ransom money from the hijacking. Besides this money, Cooper left his tie on board the plane. Later DNA analysis of the tie confirmed the perpetrator was male but did not lead to an identification. The absence of the rest of the money and D.B. Cooper himself has led to speculation about whether he survived his jump or perished in the rugged wilderness of Washington.

Did Cooper survive? FBI theories and aviation impact

The FBI's early theories suggested that D.B. Cooper, presumably an inexperienced parachutist, did not survive his jump in the stormy weather and darkness. Regardless of his fate, the D.B. Cooper case had far-reaching consequences for aviation security. As a direct response, devices known as "Cooper vanes" were installed on Boeing 727 aircraft, a mechanism preventing the opening of aft airstairs during flight. Additionally, mandatory security screening of passengers and baggage was introduced, significantly improving aviation security and effectively preventing similar hijackings.

Hunt for Cooper: From McCoy to FBI's case closure

Over the years, countless individuals have been investigated as possible D.B. Cooper candidates, including those with military backgrounds and criminals. An often-mentioned suspect is Richard McCoy Jr., who carried out a similar hijacking in 1972. However, no evidence has definitively linked him or anyone else to D.B. Cooper. Theories have also suggested that D.B. Cooper might have been a Canadian with parachuting experience and knowledge of the local area. After 45 years of fruitless investigation, the FBI announced in 2016 that they were suspending the active case. All physical evidence, including the recovered money and DNA traces from the tie, is now archived as historical artifacts, although the FBI remains open to reopening the investigation of this unsolved case if new, decisive evidence emerges.

D.B. Cooper today: Hijacker to folk hero and unsolved

D.B. Cooper is today a legendary figure in American folklore, for many a symbol of the man who committed "the perfect crime" and vanished without a trace. His daring escape has inspired countless books, documentaries, films, and even annual festivals in Washington, where enthusiasts still dive for the missing money in the Columbia River. The D.B. Cooper case is an enduring mystery from an era when hijackings posed a real threat to aviation, and security was far from today's standards. Although investigative technology has advanced significantly since 1971, the enigma of the man who jumped from a Boeing 727 with a fortune remains unsolved. D.B. Cooper's feat – whether he survived or not – lives on as a symbol of ultimate rebellion and the dream of disappearing without a trace, a historical and unsolved case that continues to fascinate.

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