SYSK’s Fall True Crime Playlist: SYSK Live: The DB Cooper Heist

The hijacking of Northwest Airlines Flight 305 by an individual known as D.B. Cooper—in reality, a ticket purchased under the alias "Dan Cooper"—on a cold Thanksgiving Eve in 1971 remains one of the most enduring unsolved mysteries in the annals of American crime.

D.B. Cooper Hijacked Northwest Airlines Flight From Portland to Seattle in 1971

The man now famously referred to as D.B. Cooper walked up to the ticket desk at Portland Airport, inquiring about Flight 305 to Seattle. He purchased a $20 ticket for the flight, asking specifically if it was a Boeing 727-100 due to a unique feature—an aft staircase usable during flight. Dan Cooper then boarded the plane and took his seat, 18C.

Cooper Demanded $200,000, a Bomb Threat Note, Parachutes, and a Refueled Plane

Once airborne, Cooper handed a flight attendant a note revealing his possession of a bomb and his demand for a ransom. He showed the bomb, and the flight attendant conveyed his demands to the pilots: $200,000 in "negotiable American currency," four parachutes (two front and two back), and a fuel truck for refueling upon landing. The crew relayed the message to SeaTac Airport, and while the plane circled, authorities and the FBI scrambled to meet his demands.

As Cooper awaited the items, he made specific requests for the refueling process, including for the plane to be flown at a low altitude with a flaps setting of 15 degrees and not faster than 200 knots. This would ensure that the aircraft's cabin wasn't pressurized, a necessary condition for his planned departure. Cooper emphasized his impatience with the refueling time and instructed the crew to hasten the process.

Plane Refueled and Delivered Cooper's Demands Without Passengers' Knowledge of Hijacking

The passengers were unaware of the hijacking, having been misled with an announcement of mechanical problems. Authorities quickly gathered the ransom money, thanks to a large insurance policy held by Northwest Orient's president for such events, and parachutes were sourced from a local skydiving center. All serial numbers of the $20 bills were recorded, and the difficult-to-source parachutes were delivered to Cooper on the plane.

Once his demands were met, Cooper released the passengers. With a bank bag to carry the mon ...

The extensive investigation and manhunt efforts by the FBI have yielded little evidence as to the true identity or fate of D.B. Cooper, the notorious aircraft hijacker.

Fbi's Manhunt For Cooper and Money Yields Little Evidence

Fbi Concludes Cooper Likely Died During Jump After Searches Yield Few Clues

The FBI expressed a clear opinion that D.B. Cooper likely perished during his jump. Agent Ralph Himmelsbach proposed that Cooper failed to open his parachute, resulting in his death upon impact with the forest, leaving him possibly buried along with the parachutes and the money.

Fbi Investigated 1,000+ Suspects, None Identified As Cooper

Despite the FBI's substantial manhunt efforts, involving over a thousand troops and law enforcement officers, they failed to uncover conclusive evidence of Cooper's whereabouts. The investigation interviewed every local individual with the surname Cooper and other suspects, totaling over a thousand, but failed to determine Cooper's identity.

In 1980, a Boy Found $20 Bills With Hijacking Serial Numbers, Suggesting Cooper Survived, but the Source Was Undetermined

In 1980, a kid named Brian Ingram discovered $20 bills with serial numbers matching the hijacked money, leading to speculation that Cooper may have survived his daring escape. However, the origin of the money remained a mystery, found 20 miles south from Ariel, Washington, in a location not anticipated.

Parachute Found In 2008 Unrelated to Cooper Case

A parachute discovered in 2008 by children in Amboy, near Ariel, sparked FBI interest as it could have belonged to Cooper. However, upon examination by Earl Cossie, who packed Cooper's chutes, it was confirmed the parachute was made of silk and not nylon, belonging to a pilot named Floyd Walling who had safe ...

The enigma of D.B. Cooper's identity continues to nurture a range of theories and suspects, each with intriguing connections to the infamous case of the airborne hijacker who vanished with a ransom in 1971.

Proposed Suspects: Evidence and Involvement

Suspects Mccoy and Weber, Similar to Cooper, Were Ruled Out Despite Similar Crimes

Not mentioned in the content provided are suspects McCoy and Weber, but there is mention of Duane Weber, who carried a potentially ominous secret shared in his dying moments.

Kenny Christiansen, a Former Northwest Orient Employee, Was a Possible Suspect in the Cooper Case

Kenny Christiansen emerged as a suspect in the D.B. Cooper case when his brother, Lyle, intimated that Kenny might be Cooper. Kenny attempted to confess something to his brother on his deathbed, but the transcript does not explicitly link Kenny to Cooper. Kenny was a former purser for Northwest Orient Airlines where the hijacking took place, a former paratrooper, and a resident in the area of the hijacking. This potential connection was further highlighted when Florence Schaffner, the flight attendant on the hijacked plane, suggested to a journalist that Kenny Christiansen bore a viable resemblance to the elusive hijacker.

Family Speculated On Suspects Like Ld Cooper

L.D. Cooper became a suspect based on a family member's account. His niece remembered him arriving at Thanksgiving in 1971, bruised, bleeding, and euphoric, overhearing him exclaim, "we did it, our money problems are over, we hijacked the plane." L.D. Cooper worked as an engineer at Boeing, and his brother, allegedly his accomplice, was a fan of the Dan Cooper comic books, which could connect to ...

The D.B. Cooper hijacking case remains America's only unsolved airline heist, intriguing the public and having a lasting cultural and practical impact on airline security and entertainment.

D.B. Cooper: America's Only Unsolved Airline Hijacking

The D.B. Cooper case stands as a true crime unsolved mystery that still engages and fascinates many. Such a status has led to a myriad of cultural works including books, movies, and TV shows that keep the mystery alive. Amusing suggestions, such as Cooper being eaten by Sasquatch, showcase the case's integration into cultural lore.

Case Inspired Books, Films, TV, and Cultural Works, Keeping the Mystery Alive

The legacy of D.B. Cooper has been cemented in popular culture with various adaptations and references. "The Pursuit of DB Cooper," a film starring Treat Williams and Robert Duvall, is directly inspired by the case. Despite its poor reception, it exemplifies the ongoing fascination with the Cooper mystery. The hosts cite the movie “WarGames” as reflective of the era's cultural output, though it is not directly related to the case.

"D.B. Cooper Days" Festival Celebrates Fascination With Case in Ariel, Washington

The annual "D.B. Cooper Days" festival held at the Ariel Store and Tavern in Ariel, Washington, is a testament to the case's enduring appeal. The festival includes a D.B. Cooper Look-Alike contest, further solidifying Cooper's status as a cultural icon.

Hijackings Led To Improved Airline Security: Passenger Screening and Carry-On Limits

The Cooper heist fundamentally altered U.S. airline security, leading to the implementation of metal detectors and the right of airlines to search bags before passengers boarded planes. These changes reflected the shift towards more stringent security measures in response to the heist.

FBI Ceased 2016 Investigation, but D.B. Cooper's Identity and Fate Still Captivate Sleuths

Although the FBI has officially closed its inv ...