The Enduring Mystery of DB Cooper: New Evidence Resurfaces in America’s only unsolved Skyjacking
Table of Contents
On November 24, 1971, just before Thanksgiving, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper boarded northwest Airlines Flight 305 from Portland to Seattle. Dressed as an unassuming businessman in his mid-forties, he carried a briefcase, ordered a bourbon, and smoked a cigarette. Little did anyone know, this man would soon become the center of one of the most baffling mysteries in American history.
After takeoff, Cooper handed a flight attendant a note written in all capital letters: “I’ve got a bomb in my briefcase. I WILL USE IT IF NECESSARY. I WANT YOU TO SIT NEXT TO ME. YOU ARE BEING KIDNAPPED.” He demanded $200,000 in $20 bills and four parachutes. The FBI complied, allowing the exchange of money and parachutes for the 36 passengers after the plane landed in Seattle.
Cooper’s next move was audacious. He instructed the pilots to fly to Mexico at an altitude of less than 3,000 meters. With the cockpit crew isolated, he jumped from the rear of the plane into the stormy night over the Cascade Mountains.Despite an extensive manhunt, Cooper vanished without a trace, leaving behind only questions and speculation.
the Birth of a Legend
The FBI’s investigation initially focused on an Oregon man named D. B. Cooper,who was quickly ruled out as a suspect. However, a reporting error by the United Press Telegraph Agency cemented the name “DB Cooper” in the public consciousness. Over the years, Cooper became a cultural icon, referenced in folk songs like Todd Snyder’s “DB Cooper” and mainstream tracks like Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba.”
In 1980, an 8-year-old boy digging along the columbia River near Vancouver, Washington, unearthed $5,800 of the ransom money, still wrapped in $20 bills with matching serial numbers. This remains the only concrete evidence tied to Cooper’s crime.
New Leads and Persistent Mysteries
In 2007, the FBI reopened the case, leveraging advancements in DNA testing and other technologies. They revealed that over 800 suspects had been investigated in the years following the hijacking,including a paleontologist and a scientific illustrator. In 2011, the FBI theorized that Cooper may have taken his alias from a French-language comic book about a Canadian Air Force pilot. Despite these efforts, the case remained unsolved.
Recently, new evidence has emerged.In 2021, YouTuber dan Grider discovered a modified parachute on the property of Richard McCoy II, a former suspect who had committed a similar heist in 1972. McCoy, who was later killed in a police shootout, had escaped capture and served time for his crimes. The FBI retrieved the parachute, harness, and a logbook from McCoy’s family property in North Carolina. Grider described the parachute as a “one in a billion” find, noting its modifications matched those requested by Cooper.
The Legacy of DB Cooper
DB cooper’s story continues to captivate the public, blending fact and folklore. His daring escape and the lack of resolution have made him a symbol of mystery and intrigue.The case remains the only unsolved civil aviation hijacking in U.S. history, a testament to Cooper’s cunning and the enduring allure of the unknown.
| key Facts About the DB Cooper Case |
|—————————————|
| Date of Hijacking | November 24, 1971 |
| Flight | Northwest Airlines Flight 305 |
| Ransom | $200,000 in $20 bills |
| Parachutes Requested | 4 |
| Last Known Location | Cascade mountains |
| Evidence Found | $5,800 of ransom money (1980) |
| Status | Unsolved |
As new evidence surfaces, the question remains: Who was DB Cooper? Was he a criminal mastermind or a man who simply disappeared into legend? The search for answers continues, keeping the mystery alive for generations to come.
For more on the FBI’s investigation into the DB Cooper case, visit their official archives.
Headline:
Unraveling the Enigma of DB Cooper: an Interview with FBI Veteran and Historian, Patrick Jones
Introduction:
Tucked away in the annals of American criminal history, the tale of DB Cooper remains one of the most enduring and captivating mysteries to date. With new evidence recently resurfacing, World Today News sat down with Patrick Jones, a retired FBI veteran and historian, to delve into the details of this infamous unsolved skyjacking case.
The Night of the Hijacking
WTN: Patrick, let’s start at the beginning.Walk us through that fateful night on November 24,1971,when an unassuming businessman boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 305.
Patrick: Well, it was a seemingly ordinary flight until Dan Cooper, as he identified himself, presented a note to the flight attendant, stating he had a bomb in his briefcase. He demanded $200,000 in $20 bills and four parachutes. The FBI complied, and after the plane landed in Seattle, Cooper jump[ed] from the rear of the plane into the night over the Cascade Mountains.
The birth of a Legend
WTN: Ironically, it was a reporting error that led to the name “DB Cooper” being etched into history. How did the public’s interest with Cooper’s story grow over the years?
Patrick: It’s fascinating how a typographical error can create a legend. The public’s imagination was captured by Cooper’s audacious escape. With no resolution in sight, he became an enigma, a symbol of mystery and intrigue. His story found its way into folk songs and mainstream music, further cementing his place in American folklore.
New Leads and Persistent Mysteries
WTN: In 2021, YouTuber Dan Grider discovered a modified parachute on the property of a former suspect, Richard McCoy II. How meaningful is this new evidence in the ongoing investigation?
Patrick: The discovery of the modified parachute is indeed significant. It’s a “one in a billion” find, as Grider himself noted. the parachute’s modifications matched those requested by Cooper.Though, it’s essential to remember that while this is a promising lead, the case remains unsolved.
the legacy of DB Cooper
WTN: After more than five decades, why does the DB Cooper case continue to captivate the public imagination?
Patrick: DB Cooper’s story is a blend of fact and folklore; it’s a testament to cooper’s cunning and the enduring allure of the unknown. The case is the only unsolved civil aviation hijacking in U.S. history.Every piece of new evidence or retrospective analysis only serves to deepen the mystery, keeping it alive for generations.
Looking Ahead
WTN: With the FBI officially closing the case in 2016, what hope remains for solving this enduring mystery?
Patrick: Even though the case is closed, hope springs eternal among investigators, historians, and enthusiasts alike. As long as there are leads to follow and evidence to study, the search for answers will continue.After all, who was DB Cooper? The search for his true identity remains one of the great unsolved mysteries in American history.
