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DB Cooper: The Mysterious Hijacker Who Outsmarted the FBI and Vanished
On November 24, 1971, an unremarkable man boarded a commercial airliner in Portland, Oregon, under the name Dan Cooper. Hours later, he had executed one of the most daring and mysterious crimes in American history, disappearing without a trace after hijacking the plane and parachuting into the wilderness with $200,000 in ransom.
This man would come to be known as DB Cooper, the subject of one of the most enduring unsolved cases in FBI history. Despite decades of investigation, public fascination, and hundreds of suspects, Cooper's true identity—and fate—remains a mystery.
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The Skyjacking
It all began around 2:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve. A man in his mid-40s, dressed in a business suit and carrying a briefcase, boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a short 30-minute flight from Portland to Seattle. After takeoff, he handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner. Initially thinking it was just another passenger's phone number, she tucked it away—until Cooper leaned closer and said, "Miss, you'd better look at that note. I have a bomb."
The note, written in neat block letters, stated that he had a bomb and wanted her to sit beside him. Opening the briefcase just enough, Cooper showed her wires and red cylinders. Calm and polite, he dictated his demands: $200,000 in $20 bills, four parachutes, and a fuel truck ready in Seattle.
A High-Stakes Game
Authorities complied with Cooper’s demands. When the flight landed in Seattle, passengers were exchanged for ransom and parachutes. The crew remained aboard, as instructed by Cooper, who then directed the pilots to head toward Mexico City at a low altitude and slow speed. Somewhere over the rugged wilderness of southwest Washington, around 8:13 p.m., Cooper opened the rear stairway door and parachuted into the night—and into legend.
The Massive FBI Search
The FBI launched “NORJAK” (Northwest Hijacking), one of the longest and most exhaustive investigations in bureau history. They interviewed thousands of suspects, combed through wilderness areas by air and ground, and tracked serial numbers from the ransom money. Despite all efforts, Cooper seemed to have vanished into thin air.
In 1980, a boy named Brian Ingram discovered $5,800 in rotting $20 bills buried along the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington. The serial numbers matched the ransom, but no further trace of Cooper—or the rest of the money—was ever found.
Who Was DB Cooper?
The name “DB Cooper” was actually a media error. The hijacker used the alias Dan Cooper, but a reporter confused it with the name of an early suspect—DB Cooper—and it stuck.
Over the years, dozens of potential suspects were considered, including:
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Richard Floyd McCoy, who committed a similar skyjacking five months later.
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Duane Weber, who confessed on his deathbed.
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Kenneth Christiansen, a former paratrooper and airline employee.
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Robert Rackstraw, a military veteran with a suspicious background.
None of these suspects were definitively proven to be Cooper. Theories abound, from the idea that he died during the jump to claims that he survived and lived in secret, spending the money gradually to avoid detection.
Why the Case Fascinates
DB Cooper's story endures not just because of the mystery, but because of how uniquely cinematic it is. A man in a suit, pulling off a flawless heist, and vanishing like a ghost. He never hurt anyone, remained calm throughout, and became something of a folk anti-hero—a real-life Robin Hood or gentleman thief.
The hijacking also came at a time when airport security was minimal, and Cooper’s act helped change that forever. It led directly to the implementation of mandatory metal detectors and baggage screening in U.S. airports.
The FBI Closes the Case—But the Public Doesn't
After 45 years, in 2016, the FBI officially closed the case, citing a lack of promising leads. But the public and amateur sleuths remain captivated. Books, documentaries, podcasts, and even a 2021 Netflix special ("DB Cooper: Where Are You?!) continue to explore theories and keep the mystery alive.
Despite thousands of tips, no solid evidence has emerged. No DNA match. No confirmed identity. Just a fascinating mystery, a handful of weathered $20 bills, and an enduring legend.
Legacy of a Legend
DB Cooper’s legend is one of daring, mystery, and the eternal appeal of the perfect crime. He outwitted the FBI, became a symbol of rebellion, and continues to inspire curiosity across generations.
In an age of surveillance and digital footprints, Cooper's vanishing act feels almost impossible today. Maybe that's why it still grips us. He is the last great mystery man of the sky—a ghost in a suit with a briefcase full of secrets.
Will we ever learn who DB Cooper really was? Maybe. But some mysteries are more powerful unsolved.
💬 What Do You Think?
Do you believe DB Cooper survived the jump? Who's your favorite suspect? Drop a comment and share your theory!
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