Who Is D.B. Cooper?

D.B. Cooper is one of the most infamous and enduring mysteries in American criminal history. On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft, extorted $200,000 in ransom, and parachuted into the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, never to be seen again. Despite an extensive manhunt and decades of investigation, his identity and fate remain unknown, captivating the public and inspiring numerous theories and cultural references.

The Hijacking

The story of D.B. Cooper begins on the afternoon of November 24, 1971, when a man identifying himself as Dan Cooper purchased a one-way ticket on Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. Described as being in his mid-40s, wearing a business suit, white shirt, black tie, and loafers, Cooper carried a briefcase and sat in the rear of the passenger cabin.

Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a note to Florence Schaffner, a flight attendant, indicating that he had a bomb. Initially thinking it was a pass from a lonely businessman, Schaffner ignored the note. However, Cooper then whispered to her, “Miss, you’d better look at that note. I have a bomb.” She complied and, upon reading it, quickly informed the cockpit crew. The note demanded $200,000 in “negotiable American currency,” four parachutes (two primary and two reserve), and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the plane upon arrival.

The flight crew relayed Cooper’s demands to air traffic control, and the authorities quickly cooperated to avoid endangering the passengers. The plane circled Puget Sound for about two hours while the FBI assembled the ransom money from various Seattle-area banks. Meanwhile, Cooper remained calm, even ordering a bourbon and soda while maintaining a polite demeanor with the flight attendants.

The Exchange and Escape

Upon landing in Seattle, Cooper exchanged the 36 passengers for the ransom and parachutes, keeping several crew members on board. He then instructed the flight crew to refuel the aircraft and chart a course for Mexico City, specifying an altitude of 10,000 feet and a speed of 200 knots, with the landing gear down and wing flaps set at 15 degrees. These were highly unusual and specific flight parameters, suggesting Cooper had significant aviation knowledge.

After takeoff, Cooper directed the crew to remain in the cockpit with the door closed. Around 8:00 PM, near the southern part of Washington State, Cooper opened the rear airstair and jumped from the plane with the ransom money strapped to his body. The crew safely landed the plane in Reno, Nevada, but Cooper had vanished into the night.

The Investigation

The FBI launched an extensive search operation, code-named NORJAK (Northwest Hijacking). They scoured the rugged terrain of southwest Washington, primarily focusing on the area around the Lewis River. Despite deploying thousands of searchers, including military personnel, aircraft, and ground teams, no trace of Cooper, his parachutes, or the ransom money was found initially.

Over the years, the FBI investigated over 1,000 suspects. One promising lead came in 1980 when an 8-year-old boy found three bundles of decaying $20 bills along the banks of the Columbia River, totaling $5,800. The serial numbers matched the ransom money, but this discovery raised more questions than answers. How did the money end up there? Did Cooper survive the jump? The case grew colder as no further significant evidence surfaced.

Theories and Suspects

Numerous theories and suspects have emerged over the decades. Some investigators believe Cooper did not survive the jump, considering the dangerous conditions, including freezing temperatures, strong winds, and a lack of appropriate gear. Others speculate he might have survived and started a new life under a different identity.

One of the most discussed suspects is Richard Floyd McCoy, who hijacked a plane in a similar manner just months after Cooper’s heist. McCoy used a parachute and extorted $500,000, but unlike Cooper, he was caught and sentenced to prison, later dying in a shootout with authorities. Some FBI agents believed McCoy was Cooper, but differences in their physical descriptions and McCoy’s alibi for the night of Cooper’s hijacking weaken this theory.

Another notable suspect was Kenneth Christiansen, a former paratrooper and Northwest Orient Airlines employee. Christiansen’s background and a deathbed confession from his brother led some investigators to suspect him. However, the FBI dismissed him due to a lack of conclusive evidence.

Other suspects include Duane Weber, who allegedly confessed to being Cooper on his deathbed, and William Gossett, a seasoned military veteran with extensive parachuting experience. Each suspect has compelling aspects, but none have definitively proven to be Cooper.

Cultural Impact

D.B. Cooper’s daring heist and mysterious disappearance have left a lasting impact on American culture. He has been the subject of books, movies, TV shows, and songs, becoming a folk hero of sorts. The case has inspired numerous amateur sleuths and professional investigators alike, keeping the mystery alive through various media.

The FBI officially closed the case in 2016, acknowledging that after 45 years, the trail had gone cold. However, the legend of D.B. Cooper continues to intrigue and entertain, symbolizing the perfect crime and the enduring allure of an unsolved mystery.

D.B. Cooper remains one of the greatest enigmas in American criminal history. His bold hijacking, clever escape, and complete disappearance have kept the public and investigators guessing for over five decades. While the truth about his identity and fate may never be known, the story of D.B. Cooper endures, a testament to the enduring power of mystery and the human fascination with the unknown.