The story of D.B. Cooper is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history—a real-life heist with a Hollywood-style twist.

The Hijacking (November 24, 1971)

On Thanksgiving Eve, a man using the name Dan Cooper (later mistakenly dubbed D.B. Cooper by the media) boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in Portland, Oregon, heading to Seattle. He was described as calm, well-dressed in a suit and tie, and in his mid-40s.

Mid-flight, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant saying he had a bomb and showed her a briefcase with wires and red cylinders. He then demanded:

  • $200,000 in cash
  • Four parachutes
  • A fuel truck standing by in Seattle for a getaway

The Escape

When the plane landed in Seattle, Cooper released the passengers in exchange for the money and parachutes. He then ordered the remaining crew to fly toward Mexico City at a low altitude and slow speed.

Around 8:00 PM, somewhere over the dense forests of southwestern Washington, Cooper opened the rear staircase and parachuted into the night—never to be seen again.

The Aftermath

  • Despite one of the largest manhunts in FBI history, Cooper was never found.
  • In 1980, a boy found $5,800 in decaying bills matching the ransom money along the Columbia River.
  • Over the years, hundreds of suspects were investigated, but none conclusively linked to the hijacking.
  • The FBI officially closed the case in 2016, leaving it a cold case.

Legacy

D.B. Cooper became a folk legend—the only person to successfully hijack a commercial airliner in the U.S. and vanish without a trace. His story has inspired books, TV shows, movies, and endless conspiracy theories about who he really was—and whether he survived the jump.

Alright, let’s dive into some of the top suspects and wildest theories around D.B. Cooper. There’s no shortage of twists in this story.

Top Suspects

  1. Richard Floyd McCoy
    • Pulled off a very similar hijacking five months later, parachuting out with $500,000.
    • Looked and acted a lot like Cooper.
    • Problem? He was ruled out by the FBI for being too young and having a solid alibi for the night of the Cooper hijacking.
  2. Kenneth Christiansen
    • A former paratrooper and flight attendant for Northwest Airlines.
    • Lived a modest life, but his brother later claimed he had a suspicious stash of cash and hinted he was Cooper.
    • Looks similar to police sketches. Still, no hard evidence ties him to the crime.
  3. Duane Weber
    • Allegedly confessed to being D.B. Cooper on his deathbed in 1995.
    • His widow reported he had nightmares about leaving fingerprints on a plane.
    • Also had a criminal past under different aliases. But again—no solid proof.
  4. Robert Rackstraw
    • Ex-Green Beret and skilled pilot with a murky past.
    • Tied to fake identities and forgery.
    • Some researchers are convinced he was Cooper, but the FBI dismissed him due to lack of evidence.

Wild Theories

  • D.B. Cooper died in the jump: The theory goes that he underestimated the danger, landed in rough terrain, and was never found. Some say the recovered ransom cash in 1980 supports this.
  • He was a CIA or government agent: This theory feeds off his cool behavior, knowledge of the aircraft, and possible insider help.
  • He escaped and lived a quiet life abroad: A few believe Cooper lived out his days anonymously in South America or Canada, the perfect vanishing act.
  • He was a woman in disguise: This theory never gained major traction, but some point to the name “Dan Cooper” (from a Franco-Belgian comic book hero) as a hint, suggesting an intentional misdirection.

The mystery endures because no body, parachute, or most of the money was ever found—just that one small stash on the riverbank.