The Mysterious Case of D.B. Cooper
Imagine stepping into an airplane on Thanksgiving Eve, 1971, with the knowledge that you are about to embark on a journey that would change aviation history forever. That was the reality for Dan Cooper, better known as D.B. Cooper, who hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 and vanished without a trace. 
The Hijacking Begins
On that fateful day, Cooper boarded Flight 305 at Portland International Airport with a black attaché case and a brown paper bag. He purchased a one-way ticket to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and calmly announced he had a bomb in his briefcase. The flight attendants, Schaffner and Mucklow, were taken aback but quickly realized the gravity of the situation.
Cooper’s demands were clear: $200,000 in negotiable American currency and four parachutes. He instructed the crew to continue flying to Mexico City, a plan that would lead him into the night sky over southwestern Washington.
The Flight and Parachute Drop
As the plane circled Puget Sound, Cooper’s demands were met, and he released the passengers after inspecting the ransom money. He then directed the crew to take off with only five people aboard, followed by three F-106 fighters from McChord Air Force Base.
The flight took off with the rear exit door open and airstair extended. Cooper denied an FAA official’s request for a meeting and became impatient. He shared his flight plan, which included a southeast course toward Mexico City at low altitude and with the landing gear deployed. The crew discussed options and agreed on a refueling stop in Reno.
At 11:02 pm, Flight 305 landed at Reno International Airport without Cooper on board. FBI agents recovered his belongings and interviewed eyewitnesses. Due to the difficulty in precisely defining the area to search, the FBI used an Air Force SR-71 Blackbird to retrace Flight 305’s flight path and photograph the route.
The Search for Evidence
Despite extensive searches, no significant material evidence related to the hijacking was found. However, in 1986, an FBI agent stated he would search for Cooper in the Washougal Valley if given the chance. In early 1973, Northwest Orient’s insurer paid the airline’s $180,000 claim on the ransom money.
The FBI searched the area but found no clues traceable to the hijacking. In 1986, an Army Corps of Engineers hydrologist noted the bills had disintegrated in a ’rounded’ fashion and were ‘matted together,’ indicating they ‘had been deposited by river action.’ The finding supported the hypothesis Cooper had landed near the Washougal River.
Theories and Suspects
Over the years, various theories have emerged regarding Cooper’s identity. Some suspects include Theodore Burdette Braden Jr., Kenneth Christiansen, Jack Coffelt, Lynn Doyle ‘L.D.’ Cooper, William Pratt Gossett, Joe Lakich, John Emil List, Ted Mayfield, Richard McCoy Jr., Vincent Petersen, Sheridan Peterson, Robert Rackstraw, Walter Reca, and Duane Weber. Each suspect had their own unique connection to the case but none were ever conclusively linked to D.B. Cooper.
Despite the numerous suspects and theories, the FBI officially suspended the investigation in July 2016 due to resource constraints. The 66-volume case file was preserved for historical purposes and evidence is open to the public.
The Legacy of D.B. Cooper
D.B. Cooper’s hijacking led to major security upgrades at airports and commercial aviation, including metal detectors and baggage inspections. Boeing 727s were retrofitted with ‘Cooper vanes’ to prevent aft staircase deployment in-flight. The FBI officially suspended the investigation in July 2016 but various theories continue to be pursued regarding Cooper’s identity, success, and fate.
On Thanksgiving Eve, 1971, a man named Dan Cooper boarded Flight 305 at Portland International Airport, carrying a black attaché case and a brown paper bag. He purchased a one-way ticket for the short flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I have a bomb.
The mystery of D.B. Cooper remains unsolved, leaving us to wonder what truly happened that fateful night. The case continues to captivate the public’s imagination and serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of aviation history. Will we ever uncover the truth behind D.B. Cooper?
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This page is based on the article D. B. Cooper published in Wikipedia (retrieved on January 19, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
