D.B. Cooper: The Most Enduring Unsolved Crime in U.S. History

On November 24, 1971, a mysterious man boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, forever etching his name into the annals of crime history. Known only as D.B. Cooper, this enigmatic figure pulled off one of the most daring heists ever recorded and then vanished without a trace. To this day, the D.B. Cooper hijacking remains the only unsolved air piracy case in the history of commercial aviation.

The Crime

The man who would become known as D.B. Cooper purchased a one-way ticket from Portland to Seattle under the alias “Dan Cooper.” He was described as a middle-aged man with dark sunglasses, dressed in a suit and tie. Once on board, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant, claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase. The note demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel truck to refuel the plane upon landing in Seattle.

Upon landing, the airline complied with Cooper’s demands, and he released the 36 passengers. With only the crew left on board, Cooper ordered the pilot to fly to Mexico City at a low altitude and slow speed. Shortly after takeoff, Cooper strapped the ransom money to his body, lowered the rear airstairs, and leapt into the dark, stormy night over the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest.

The Investigation

The FBI launched an extensive search operation for the hijacker, combing through the wilderness and analyzing evidence left behind on the aircraft. Despite a few potential leads, the investigation has largely remained at a standstill. In 1980, a young boy found $5,800 of the ransom money, partially decomposed, along the banks of the Columbia River. This discovery fueled further speculation but ultimately provided no concrete answers.

The Suspects

Over the years, several suspects have been investigated and ruled out by the FBI. Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., a Vietnam War veteran, was initially considered a strong suspect, having committed a similar crime months after Cooper’s heist. However, the FBI eventually determined that he was not in the Portland area at the time of the hijacking. Other suspects included a man named D.B. Cooper, who was eliminated due to a lack of evidence, and Robert Rackstraw, a former Army paratrooper who passed away in 2019.

The Legacy

The D.B. Cooper case has captivated the public’s imagination for more than half a century, spawning numerous books, documentaries, and films. The story has been romanticized, with some viewing Cooper as a sort of folk hero. However, it’s essential to remember that Cooper’s actions endangered the lives of passengers and crew members, and his crime remains a significant unsolved mystery in U.S. history.

Conclusion

Despite the passage of time and advances in forensic technology, the true identity of D.B. Cooper and his ultimate fate remain shrouded in mystery. The case continues to intrigue amateur sleuths and professional investigators alike, serving as a testament to the enduring power of unsolved crimes in capturing the human imagination.