DB Cooper, also known as Dan Cooper, is one of the most notorious and mysterious criminals in American history. On November 24, 1971, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 on a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. He extorted $200,000 in ransom and then parachuted out of the plane, never to be seen or heard from again.
The hijacking and subsequent disappearance of DB Cooper have captivated the public’s imagination for over 50 years. Despite numerous investigations, including the largest manhunt in FBI history, no one knows for sure who DB Cooper was or what became of him.
The hijacking began when a man using the name Dan Cooper purchased a one-way ticket from Portland to Seattle. Cooper was described as a middle-aged white man wearing a dark suit and a black tie. He boarded the plane carrying a black briefcase and sat in the rear of the aircraft.
Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant, Florence Schaffner. The note stated that he had a bomb and demanded $200,000 in ransom and four parachutes. The plane landed in Seattle, and the ransom was delivered. Cooper released the passengers and some of the crew and instructed the remaining crew to fly the plane to Mexico City at a low altitude.
During the flight, Cooper donned a parachute and jumped from the rear of the aircraft. Despite an extensive search of the area, no trace of Cooper or his parachute was ever found.
Over the years, numerous suspects have been investigated, but none have been definitively linked to the crime. In 1980, a young boy found a bundle of cash on the banks of the Columbia River, which was later identified as a portion of the ransom money. However, the location of the money’s discovery did not provide any new clues about Cooper’s whereabouts.
The DB Cooper case has spawned numerous theories and has been the subject of countless books, movies, and documentaries. Some believe that Cooper died during the jump, while others believe he survived and lived out the rest of his life under an assumed identity. Despite the lack of a resolution, the case remains an enduring mystery and a testament to the ingenuity and audacity of one of America’s most elusive criminals.
In conclusion, the DB Cooper case is a fascinating mystery that continues to captivate the public’s imagination. The story of a man hijacking a plane and then disappearing into thin air is the stuff of legend, and despite numerous investigations, the case remains unsolved. Perhaps one day, new evidence will come to light that will finally solve the mystery of DB Cooper’s fate.
