D. B. Cooper

Unidentified Airplane Hijacker in 1971

D. B. Cooper, also known as Dan Cooper, is the enigmatic figure who hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727, in U.S. airspace on November 24, 1971. This audacious act, executed during a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, has captivated the public's imagination for decades. Cooper approached a flight attendant and casually claimed he had a bomb, demanding a ransom of $200,000, which would be equivalent to approximately $1.6 million today, along with four parachutes. After the passengers were safely released in Seattle, Cooper instructed the flight crew to refuel the aircraft and prepare for a second leg of the journey to Mexico City, with a stop in Reno, Nevada.

Here's where the mystery deepens: about thirty minutes after takeoff from Seattle, Cooper opened the aircraft's aft door, deployed the staircase, and parachuted into the night over southwestern Washington. His identity and fate remain one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries in the annals of aviation history.

Quick Facts

• Disappeared: November 24, 1971 (53 years ago)
• Status: Missing / Unidentified
• Other Names: Dan Cooper
• Known For: Hijacking a Boeing 727 and parachuting from the plane midflight before disappearing
• Criminal Status: At large, likely deceased
• Criminal Charge: Air piracy and violation of the Hobbs Act
• Capture Status: Fugitive, believed dead
• Wanted by: FBI since November 24, 1971 (Case was closed in 2016)
• Website: FBI D.B. Cooper Case

The Hijacking

On Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, 1971, a man clad in a black business suit approached the Northwest Orient Airlines counter at Portland International Airport. Using cash, he purchased a one-way ticket for Flight 305, a thirty-minute trip to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). On his ticket, he identified himself as "Dan Cooper." Eyewitnesses later described Cooper as a white male in his mid-40s, standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with dark hair and brown eyes.

After boarding the Boeing 727-100 (FAA registration N467US), Cooper took his seat in the last row, 18-E, and ordered a bourbon and 7-Up. Shortly after takeoff at 2:50 PM PST, he discreetly handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner, who was seated behind him. Initially assuming it was a lonely businessman's contact information, Schaffner dropped the note into her purse. However, Cooper leaned closer and whispered, "Miss, you'd better look at that note. I have a bomb."

Upon reading the note, which was written in neat, all-capital letters with a felt-tip pen, Schaffner saw that Cooper had claimed to have a bomb in his briefcase and demanded that she sit with him. When she complied and asked to see the bomb, Cooper opened his briefcase, revealing two rows of four red cylinders, which appeared to be dynamite, along with a large cylindrical battery.

Cooper then outlined his demands to Schaffner, who relayed them to the flight crew. Captain William A. Scott directed her to remain in the cockpit for the duration of the flight and take detailed notes. He then communicated Cooper's demands to Northwest flight operations: $200,000 in negotiable American currency, two front parachutes, and two back parachutes. By requesting two sets of parachutes, Cooper hinted that he intended to take a hostage with him, thus discouraging authorities from providing any non-functional equipment.

With Schaffner in the cockpit, flight attendant Tina Mucklow became the primary liaison between Cooper and the crew. It was during this time that Cooper made additional requests: fuel trucks were to meet the plane upon landing, and all passengers were to remain seated while Mucklow brought the ransom aboard. He assured that he would release the passengers once he had received the money.

In a calculated move, Scott informed Sea-Tac air traffic control of the hijacking situation. The Seattle Police Department and the FBI were alerted, and the passengers were told their arrival would be delayed due to a "minor mechanical difficulty." Donald Nyrop, president of Northwest Airlines, authorized the ransom payment and directed all employees to cooperate with Cooper's demands.

For approximately two hours, Flight 305 circled Puget Sound, giving authorities enough time to assemble Cooper's ransom and parachutes and mobilize emergency personnel. During this time, Mucklow observed Cooper's demeanor. He was calm, even friendly, and appeared familiar with the local geography, correctly identifying Tacoma as they flew overhead. He even commented on the proximity of McChord Air Force Base to Sea-Tac, demonstrating a level of knowledge that was unsettling to Mucklow.

Cooper's calmness was notable; he even attempted to engage Mucklow in conversation about her life. When she asked why he chose Northwest Airlines, he simply replied, "It's not because I have a grudge against your airlines, it's just because I have a grudge."

The Ransom

Around 5:24 PM PST, Captain Scott informed Cooper that the parachutes had been delivered to Sea-Tac, and the plane prepared to land. At 5:46 PM PST, Flight 305 touched down at Sea-Tac. Cooper insisted that only one representative from the airline approach the plane with the ransom and parachutes, and that they use the aircraft's front door via a mobile staircase.

Northwest's Seattle operations manager, Al Lee, was selected to deliver the ransom. To avoid confusion with law enforcement, he changed into civilian clothes. With the passengers still seated, Mucklow exited the aircraft to retrieve the ransom cash, which was packed in a bag weighing approximately 19 pounds (8.5 kg), containing 10,000 unmarked $20 bills.

Once inside the plane again, Cooper inspected the money before ordering the release of the passengers. As they disembarked, Mucklow attempted to lighten the mood by jokingly asking if she could keep some of the cash, to which Cooper readily agreed, only for her to decline based on company policy.

With the passengers safely off the plane, only Cooper and the six crew members remained. Mucklow made several trips to retrieve the parachutes for Cooper, who was now preparing for his escape. She also asked if she could retrieve her purse from a compartment behind his seat, to which Cooper consented, assuring her, "I won't bite you."

Back in the Air

After a delay in refueling, Cooper became impatient, expressing that the process was taking too long. Once everything was in place, Cooper provided the flight crew with a flight plan directing them southeast toward Mexico City at the minimum airspeed possible without stalling—approximately 100 knots (185 km/h)—and specified that the landing gear must remain deployed, the wing flaps lowered 15 degrees, and the cabin unpressurized.

Flight 305 took off around 7:40 PM with Cooper, Mucklow, Captain Scott, First Officer William "Bill" Rataczak, and Flight Engineer Harold E. Anderson aboard. Two F-106 fighters from McChord Air Force Base and a Lockheed T-33 trainer followed closely, maintaining a safe distance from the slow-moving 727.

As the flight progressed, Cooper instructed Mucklow to lower the aft staircase. She hesitated, worried about being sucked out of the plane, but he insisted on lowering it himself. Before she left to return to the cockpit, Mucklow pleaded with Cooper to take the bomb with him, to which he assured her he would either disarm it or bring it along.

At approximately 8:00 PM, a warning light signaled that the aft staircase had been deployed. Captain Scott used the intercom to ask Cooper if he needed assistance, receiving a single-word response: "No." Just moments later, the aircraft's tail section pitched upward suddenly, indicating Cooper's jump.

Investigation

Upon landing at Reno-Tahoe International Airport at 11:02 PM with the aft staircase still down, authorities established a perimeter around the plane, fearing Cooper may still be aboard. A thorough search confirmed he had escaped.

Forensic evidence collected from the plane included Cooper's black clip-on tie, a mother-of-pearl tie clip, and multiple cigarette butts found in the ashtray. Additionally, 66 latent fingerprints were recovered, but none matched known suspects.

In a strange twist, just a few months after Cooper's daring escape, a portion of the ransom money was discovered by an eight-year-old boy named Brian Ingram on the Columbia River's banks near Vancouver, Washington. This revelation sparked renewed interest in the case, but no further clues about Cooper's identity or fate emerged.

Despite extensive investigations over the years, including aerial searches and interviews with over a thousand suspects, the FBI closed the case in July 2016, citing the need to allocate resources elsewhere. Yet, the legend of D. B. Cooper continues to fuel numerous theories and speculations about his true identity, survival, and the fate of the remaining ransom.

Theories and Suspects

Over the years, many individuals have been proposed as potential suspects, but none have been conclusively linked to the crime. Some of the more notable suspects include:

1. Ted Braden: A Special Forces veteran with skydiving expertise, who had a checkered past.
2. Kenneth Christiansen: A former flight attendant whose brother believed he was Cooper based on circumstantial evidence.
3. Duane Weber: Proposed by his widow after a deathbed confession, though his fingerprints did not match any found at the scene.
4. Robert Rackstraw: A retired Army pilot with a questionable past, who appeared as a suspect in various documentaries but was ultimately cleared by the FBI.
5. Sheridan Peterson: A former Boeing employee who had a history of risky behavior, and whose DNA did not match Cooper's.

These theories only add to the allure of the case, as the true identity of D. B. Cooper remains tantalizingly out of reach.

Aftermath and Cultural Impact

The D. B. Cooper case has had far-reaching implications for aviation security. In response to the hijacking, significant changes were made to airport security protocols, including the installation of metal detectors and mandatory baggage inspections. The Boeing 727 was retrofitted with "Cooper vanes" to prevent mid-flight deployment of the aft staircase, significantly reducing the likelihood of similar hijackings in the future.

Cooper's audacity has inspired countless books, documentaries, and even a cult following. Every year, enthusiasts gather to celebrate the mystery at events like CooperCon, where theories and evidence are shared, keeping the legend of D. B. Cooper alive.

Sources

• Wikipedia article: D. B. Cooper
• FBI Records: The Vault: D.B. Cooper Case
• Various news articles and documentaries on the case.