The Unsolved Mystery of D.B. Cooper

Chapter 1: The Hijacking

In the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a middle-aged man carrying a briefcase entered Portland International Airport and purchased a one-way ticket to Seattle, Washington. The man checked in under the name Dan Cooper and, along with 36 other passengers and six crew members, quickly boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 305. Once on board, Cooper settled in the middle of the last row of seats on the right side of the cabin. He ordered a drink and lit a cigarette because it was the 1970s.

After the flight was cleared for takeoff, Cooper turned around and handed an envelope to flight attendant Florence Schaffner. Inside the envelope was a note containing a handwritten message indicating that he had a bomb. Reluctantly, Schaffner sat next to Cooper and caught a glimpse in his briefcase of what appeared to be eight sticks of dynamite.

Cooper's demands were simple. He wanted $200,000 in cash and four parachutes. He also demanded that a fuel truck refuel the plane after landing in Seattle. If his demands were not met, he threatened to "do the job." Once the aircraft was in the air, Schaffner informed the crew in the cockpit, while another flight attendant, Tina Mucklow, stayed with Cooper. Using a phone at the back of the cabin, Mucklow acted as a mediator between Cooper and the crew for the rest of the flight.

For the next 90 minutes, Flight 305 followed a holding pattern above Seattle while local and federal authorities scrambled to gather the ransom money and the four parachutes. A nearby skydiving school supplied the parachutes, and a local bank vault yielded $10,000 in $20 bills. At 5:45 PM, over two hours after the scheduled arrival time, Flight 305 finally landed in Seattle. The sun had long since set, and the aircraft was directed to an isolated section of the tarmac.

Once the aircraft was stopped, the ransom money and parachutes were handed over to Mucklow, who took them on board. In exchange, Cooper allowed two flight attendants and all the passengers to disembark. Most of them didn't even realize that the flight had been hijacked.

With the ransom received and four crew members still on board, Cooper instructed Mucklow to inform the captain that he wanted to go to Mexico. The plane would fly with the landing gear lowered, flaperons at 15 degrees, and below 10,000 feet. The cabin lights should be turned off, and the rear airstair, which was opened through the belly of the aircraft, should remain deployed.

Two of Cooper's demands could not be met. First, the requested flight plan would not allow for a non-stop flight to Mexico. Cooper then proposed a refueling stop in Phoenix, Yuma, or Sacramento before agreeing on Reno, Nevada. Second, it was not possible to take off with the aft stairwell open. Cooper agreed to close the stairs on the condition that Mucklow stay with him to show him how to reopen them once the aircraft was in the air.

After almost two hours on the ground due to fueling complications, Flight 305 took to the skies at 7:36 p.m. Less than five minutes after takeoff, Cooper ordered Mucklow to go to the cockpit and not to disturb him again. She saw Cooper for the last time in the middle aisle as if he were preparing to jump.

Mucklow rejoined the rest of the crew, locked the cockpit door, and approximately three hours later, Flight 305 landed safely in Reno. Once the aircraft was stopped, the crew cautiously made their way to the back of the cabin, but there was no sign of Cooper or the bomb. The rear airstair had been opened during the flight and was slightly damaged upon landing. There seemed to be only one explanation for Cooper's absence. At some point between Seattle and Reno, Cooper had put on a parachute, descended the stairs, and jumped into the dark night sky.

Chapter 2: The Manhunt

As soon as it was confirmed that Cooper was no longer on board, dozens of FBI agents searched the plane, only to find a disappointing amount of evidence. A black tie clip... Eight cigarette butts... And two of the four parachutes—that's all Cooper had left behind. It was clear that he had taken the loot and the briefcase with him.

During the interviews conducted on the night of the incident, the crew and passengers described Cooper as a middle-aged white man with brown eyes and black hair. He appeared to be in his forties and was wearing a dark overcoat, a suit, a white shirt, a black tie, and dark shoes. Shortly after boarding, he also put on a pair of sunglasses.

Based on this description, the FBI produced several composite sketches. However, before they could begin the search, the FBI had to determine when Cooper had left the aircraft. Easier said than done. None of the four crew members or the pilots of the two fighter jets escorting the flight between Seattle and Reno saw Cooper jump from the plane. It was not surprising since it was pitch black outside. However, the crew did note something strange. Their last exchange with Cooper occurred around 8:05 PM when they called Cooper on the intercom phone to offer assistance, which he refused. Within 10 minutes of that call, the crew felt what they described as a "jolt" or "vibration" of the aircraft. They suspected this was caused by Cooper's jump, and a reenactment of the incident supported this conclusion.

So, that answers the "when" question, but what about the "where"? If Cooper did survive the jump, his landing location was going to be very difficult to pinpoint. The search area, with its fuzzy boundaries, covered acres of mountainous terrain and dense forests. It was truly a needle in a haystack situation. In addition to the challenging terrain, the search was further complicated by plummeting temperatures and inclement weather in the days following the incident. Despite their efforts, authorities were never able to find any trace of Cooper or the items he took with him.

Suspicions of Survival and an Escape Plan

From the start of the investigation, many speculated that Cooper did not survive his daring leap. While this may not provide the most exciting conclusion to the story, it is often the case that reality is less exciting than fiction. Although there is no concrete evidence for or against Cooper's survival, assuming he died upon landing is not unreasonable.

When Cooper jumped into the night, Flight 305 was traversing a frigid rainstorm at a speed of approximately 170 knots, 10,000 feet above Washington. The wind was so fierce that a placard was torn off the rear stairwell, which was later found in 1978, almost directly below the estimated flight path. And it's safe to say that Cooper was not properly dressed for the occasion.

Additionally, there were numerous layers of clouds covering the ground below him, so Cooper most likely jumped without knowing his precise location. Even if he could see the ground and had a specific landing area in mind, the parachute he requested was not steerable, meaning he would not have been able to control his descent to a precise landing point. This also hindered any coordination with a potential ground accomplice.

While Cooper appeared to have some knowledge of parachutes, his actual skill level is debatable. It is widely accepted that Cooper requested two sets of parachutes, two primary and two reserves, to make authorities believe he was planning to jump with a hostage. Thus, the FBI considered but ultimately did not go through with, sabotaging the parachutes as they did not want to risk the life of an innocent person. However, in their haste to obtain the parachutes, they unintentionally provided Cooper with a dummy reserve parachute intended for training purposes. This mistake seems to have gone unnoticed by Cooper, as the dummy parachute was one of the two missing from the aircraft.

Additionally, for his primary parachute, Cooper chose the older, lower-quality parachute. Thus, in both cases, it appears that Cooper made the worst possible choice. However, these details can also be interpreted differently. For example, it is possible that Cooper used the dummy parachute not as a reserve parachute but as a bag to hold the money. This is exactly what he attempted to do with the other reserve parachute. He first tried to place the money in the canopy before removing several suspension lines to wrap around the bag. Perhaps he used the dummy parachute for the same purpose.

As for the decision to use the older parachute, this is not necessarily a sign of inexperience. It could even be the opposite, as the parachute he left behind was a civilian luxury parachute, while the one he used was a military parachute. One could argue that Cooper may have had a background in parachuting, such as being a paratrooper, and therefore chose the older military equipment because it was what he was most familiar with.

There is at least one good reason to believe that Cooper had a military connection. While the flight was in a holding pattern near Seattle, Cooper mentioned that McChord Air Force Base was only 20 minutes away from Seattle-Tacoma Airport. At the time, this statement was accurate, which could hint at a military background. In addition to the military connection, Cooper may have even been linked to the CIA. You see, the CIA also used the Boeing 727, the specific model of aircraft that Cooper chose to hijack, to covertly parachute agents and supplies during the Vietnam War. The Boeing 727 had a unique advantage for such missions: its rear ventral airstair. One could speculate that Cooper chose a Boeing 727 precisely because it offered a relatively secure escape route. However, whether he learned this from the CIA or through other means is still a subject of debate.

Despite appearing prepared, Cooper's escape plan seemed to lack sufficient forethought. He did not specify a specific flight route and was forced to make a last-minute change between Mexico and Reno. He could have demanded better equipment for his jump, such as boots, a helmet, or a jumpsuit. He could have even requested the ransom money in larger denominations to have a lighter and less bulky burden to carry. Assuming he survived the jump without complications, he would then have had to hike through the dense, partially snow-covered forest with only moccasins and an overcoat at the end of November.

It appears that Cooper's escape was more of an act of faith than a calculated leap into the unknown. However, authorities never received any missing person reports matching Cooper's description after the incident. This could suggest that he did survive and quietly returned to his normal life. Furthermore, other hijackers attempted similar extortion hijackings, and many of them survived, although they were quickly apprehended. In conclusion, Cooper's survival cannot be ruled out entirely, and as long as that possibility remains, the legend of D.B. Cooper will likely persist.

Examination of Evidence

The black-tie clip was one of the most important pieces of evidence that Cooper left behind. It was found on his seat and may have been an intentional clue or a mere oversight. Unfortunately, the tie clip did not provide any significant leads in the investigation.

Another important piece of evidence was the eight cigarette butts found in the aircraft. These cigarette butts were collected and analyzed for DNA, but unfortunately, the evidence was mishandled and subsequently lost, meaning it could not be used to identify or rule out Cooper.

The two missing parachutes also provided some insight into Cooper's actions. The fact that he took two reserves and not just one suggests that he was well-prepared and had a plan in mind. It is possible that the missing parachutes were used to secure the bag of money or were simply discarded after the jump. Unfortunately, without further evidence, their exact purpose remains speculative.

In conclusion, the evidence that Cooper left behind is scant and does not unambiguously indicate his whereabouts or fate. The tie clip, cigarette butts, and missing parachutes offer some clues, but without additional evidence, they only serve to deepen the mystery surrounding D.B. Cooper.

Chapter 3: Follow the Money

As the investigation into the D.B. Cooper case continued, the FBI decided to focus on the ransom of $200,000. The money was retrieved from a local bank vault, and the serial numbers of the $20 bills were recorded in advance. This was done to make it nearly impossible for Cooper to spend the money without being detected.

Northwest Airlines and various newspapers even offered a reward for anyone who found a bill with a matching serial number. Despite these efforts, no one came forward with a matching bill for nearly a decade.

In 1980, a young boy named Brian Ingram was digging in the sand on a beach in southern Washington and stumbled upon three bundles of cash totaling $5,880. The bills were badly damaged, but Ingram's parents recognized them from the famous hijacking case and turned them over to the FBI.

These bills were quickly examined and indeed matched the serial numbers of the ransom money. However, their discovery raised more questions than answers. The main question is: how did the money end up so far from the drop zone?

One theory is that Cooper simply dropped a portion of the money, which then fell into the Lewis River and was carried downstream to Tina Bar, the name of the beach where the money was found. However, this theory is difficult to support as the Columbia River flows in the opposite direction.

Another possibility is that the drop zone was actually further southeast, near a river called Washougal. In this case, it is conceivable, though unlikely, that the money could have been carried to Tina Bar. Alternatively, the bills could have landed directly on the beach if the flight path was slightly more to the west.

Complicating matters further, sediments from the riverbed were dredged and deposited on the beach in 1974. Soil analysis indicates that the money was found above this layer of sediment. However, a reexamination of the analysis showed that the supposed layer of dredged sediment could also be natural clay. Furthermore, it is clear that the sediments were deposited not where the discovery was made but several tens of meters away.

When Ingram found the bills, the rubber bands holding them together were still intact. This is significant because experiments conducted in 2009 showed that rubber bands of that type could not survive exposure to air or water for more than a year. This suggests that the bills must have been buried at Tina Bar less than a year after the hijacking.

The most probable explanation, therefore, is that Cooper or someone else deliberately buried the money. If Cooper did survive, perhaps he buried the money himself. Or perhaps someone else stumbled upon his body and chose to bury the bills after the fact.

Despite numerous searches of Tina Bar and the surrounding area since Ingram's discovery in 1980, no sign of Cooper or the rest of the money has been found to this day. The mystery remains unsolved.

Chapter 4: A Leap of Faith

The daring parachute escape from a 727 somewhere between Reno and... The plane was immediately searched. We don't know who he is, where he's from, or where he went. I imagine that we will continue the search until he is found or more is known. The Hunt for D.B. Cooper

Debate on Cooper's survival after the jump

From the start of the investigation, many speculated that Cooper did not survive his daring leap. While this may not provide the most exciting conclusion to the story, it is often the case that reality is less exciting than fiction. Although there is no concrete evidence for or against Cooper's survival, assuming he died upon landing is not unreasonable.

Analysis of the environmental conditions during the jump

When Cooper jumped into the night, Flight 305 was traversing a frigid rainstorm at a speed of approximately 170 knots, 10,000 feet above Washington. The wind was so fierce that a placard was torn off the rear stairwell, which was later found almost directly below the estimated flight path. And it's safe to say that Cooper was not properly dressed for the occasion.

Evaluation of Cooper's parachute choice and skills

Additionally, there were numerous layers of clouds covering the ground below him, so Cooper most likely jumped without knowing his precise location. Even if he could see the ground and had a specific landing area in mind, the parachute he requested was not steerable, meaning he would not have been able to control his descent to a precise landing point. This also hindered any coordination with a potential ground accomplice.

While Cooper appeared to have some knowledge of parachutes, his actual skill level is debatable. It is widely accepted that Cooper requested two sets of parachutes, two primary and two reserves, to make authorities believe he was planning to jump with a hostage. However, in their haste to obtain the parachutes, they unintentionally provided Cooper with a dummy reserve parachute intended for training purposes. This mistake seems to have gone unnoticed by Cooper, as the dummy parachute was one of the two missing from the aircraft.

Additionally, for his primary parachute, Cooper chose the older, lower-quality parachute. Thus, in both cases, it appears that Cooper made the worst possible choice. However, these details can also be interpreted differently. For example, it is possible that Cooper used the dummy parachute not as a reserve parachute but as a bag to hold the money. This is exactly what he attempted to do with the other reserve parachute. He first tried to place the money in the canopy before removing several suspension lines to wrap around the bag. Perhaps he used the dummy parachute for the same purpose.

As for the decision to use the older parachute, this is not necessarily a sign of inexperience. It could even be the opposite, as the parachute he left behind was a civilian luxury parachute, while the one he used was a military parachute. One could argue that Cooper may have had a background in parachuting, such as being a paratrooper, and therefore chose the older military equipment because it was what he was most familiar with.

Possible military and intelligence connections

There is at least one good reason to believe that Cooper had a military connection. While the flight was in a holding pattern near Seattle, Cooper mentioned that McChord Air Force Base was only 20 minutes away from Seattle-Tacoma Airport. At the time, this statement was accurate, which could hint at a military background. In addition to the military connection, Cooper may have even been linked to the CIA. You see, the CIA also used the Boeing 727, the specific model of aircraft that Cooper chose to hijack, to covertly parachute agents and supplies during the Vietnam War. The Boeing 727 had a unique advantage for such missions: its rear ventral airstair. One could speculate that Cooper chose a Boeing 727 precisely because it offered a relatively secure escape route. However, whether he learned this from the CIA or through other means is still a subject of debate.

Speculations on Cooper's fate and return to normal life

Despite appearing prepared, Cooper's escape plan seemed to lack sufficient forethought. He did not specify a specific flight route and was forced to make a last-minute change between Mexico and Reno. He could have demanded better equipment for his jump, such as boots, a helmet, or a jumpsuit. He could have even requested the ransom money in larger denominations to have a lighter and less bulky burden to carry. Assuming he survived the jump without complications, he would then have had to hike through the dense, partially snow-covered forest with only moccasins and an overcoat at the end of November.

It appears that Cooper's escape was more of an act of faith than a calculated leap into the unknown. However, authorities never received any missing person reports matching Cooper's description after the incident. This could suggest that he did survive and quietly returned to his normal life. Furthermore, other hijackers attempted similar extortion hijackings, and many of them survived, although they were quickly apprehended. In conclusion, Cooper's survival cannot be ruled out entirely, and as long as that possibility remains, the legend of D.B. Cooper will likely persist.

Chapter 5: The Suspects

When the case gained public attention, the FBI began questioning several potential suspects. One of them was Robert Rackstraw, a military pilot with experience in explosives. He had a criminal record and a relative who was a skydiving enthusiast. However, Rackstraw did not match Cooper's physical description, and his age at the time of the incident was too young.

Another suspect was Kenneth Christiansen, a World War II paratrooper who worked for Northwest Airlines. He matched some aspects of Cooper's description and had a military background. However, Christiansen did not have the same physical characteristics as Cooper, and the flight attendants who interacted with Cooper did not believe he was the hijacker.

Richard McCoy was also a suspect due to the similarities between his hijacking and Cooper's. McCoy used a fake name, demanded a large sum of money, and jumped out of the aircraft. However, McCoy was captured shortly after his hijacking, and his physical appearance did not match Cooper's.

Duane Weber became a suspect after confessing to his wife on his deathbed that he was D.B. Cooper. He had some similarities to Cooper, including a military background and a history of criminal activities. However, his fingerprints did not match those found on the aeroplane, and his DNA did not match the DNA found on Cooper's tie clip.

William Smith was another suspect who was considered due to his military background and experience in parachuting. He matched some aspects of Cooper's description and had a connection to the Dan Cooper comic books. However, Smith had lived his entire life in the northeastern United States and did not have the same physical characteristics as Cooper.

These are just a few examples of the many suspects who have been considered over the years. Each of them has some similarities to Cooper but also significant differences. The challenge of identifying the true suspect lies in the limited evidence available and the difficulty of matching that evidence to a specific individual.

In recent years, advancements in DNA and fingerprint analysis have offered new hope for solving the case. The FBI has reexamined Cooper's tie clip and other evidence in search of viable DNA samples. If a match is found, it could provide a breakthrough in the investigation and finally reveal the true identity of D.B. Cooper.

Conclusion

The unsolved mystery of D.B. Cooper continues to captivate the public's imagination. To summarise, Cooper hijacked Northwest Airlines Flight 305 in 1971, demanding a ransom of $200,000 and four parachutes. After receiving the ransom, Cooper allowed the passengers and two flight attendants to disembark, and the plane took off again. Somewhere between Seattle and Reno, Cooper jumped out of the aircraft using one of the parachutes, never to be seen again.

The enduring legend of D.B. Cooper lies in the fact that his fate and identity remain unknown. Many theories and speculations surround his ultimate fate, ranging from his death upon landing to a successful escape and a quiet return to normal life. The lack of concrete evidence makes it difficult to determine what truly happened.

The analysis of environmental conditions during the jump suggests that Cooper faced challenging circumstances, including frigid rainstorms, strong winds, and limited visibility. His choice of parachutes and his skill level in using them are also a subject of debate. While there are indications that Cooper had some knowledge of parachutes, his actual proficiency remains uncertain.

Cooper's possible military and intelligence connections add an intriguing dimension to the case. His mention of McChord Air Force Base and the Boeing 727, which the CIA used for covert operations, raises concerns about his background and training. However, concrete evidence linking Cooper to the military or intelligence agencies remains elusive.

Despite extensive searches, no trace of Cooper or the remaining ransom money has been found. The discovery of a portion of the ransom money at Tina Bar raised more questions than answers. The exact circumstances of how the money ended up there and whether Cooper was directly involved in burying it remain unknown.

Various suspects have been considered over the years, but none have definitively been identified as D.B. Cooper. Each suspect has certain similarities to Cooper but also significant differences, making it challenging to determine the true identity of the hijacker.

The possibility of solving the D.B. Cooper case remains uncertain. Advances in DNA and fingerprint analysis offer hope for potential breakthroughs, but until then, the enduring mystery of D.B. Cooper and his ultimate fate will continue to captivate the public's imagination.