DB Cooper — The Man Who Vanished — Paranormal History

Who Is DB Cooper?

On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself “Dan Cooper” hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 — a Boeing 727 flying from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. He collected $200,000 in ransom and four parachutes, then jumped from the plane into the stormy night over the Pacific Northwest. He was never seen again. DB Cooper — as the media mistakenly called him — became the only skyjacker in American history to remain at large.

History

The Hijacking (November 24, 1971)

The man who would become known as DB Cooper boarded Flight 305 at Portland International Airport on the afternoon of November 24, 1971. He was dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie. He carried a briefcase and a brown paper bag.

After the plane took off, Cooper handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner. The note read: “Miss, I have a bomb. Please sit next to me.” Schaffner sat down, and Cooper opened his briefcase, revealing what appeared to be a bomb — a device made of wires, red sticks, and a battery.

Cooper demanded:

$200,000 in cash — a mix of denominations
Four parachutes — two main chutes and two reserve chutes
The plane be refueled upon landing in Seattle

The airline and the FBI complied with Cooper’s demands. The plane landed in Seattle, the money and parachutes were delivered, and the passengers were released. Cooper then ordered the plane to fly to Mexico City — at a low altitude and with the landing gear down.

The Jump (8:13 PM)

At approximately 8:13 PM, somewhere over the Pacific Northwest — between Seattle and Reno, Nevada — Cooper opened the rear stairs of the Boeing 727 and jumped into the darkness. The plane’s crew, who were in the cockpit, felt the plane shudder as Cooper jumped. When the plane landed in Reno, Cooper was gone.

The FBI launched a massive search for Cooper. They searched the area where he was believed to have jumped, but the rugged terrain and harsh weather made the search extremely difficult. No body, no parachute, and no money were found.

The Evidence

The evidence left behind was limited but significant:

Tie clip — Cooper left behind a clip-on tie, which was later tested for DNA. A partial DNA profile was obtained, but no match has been found.
Money — In 1981, $5,800 of the ransom money was found along the banks of the Columbia River in Washington state. The money was found in a rotting paper bag, and the serial numbers matched those given to Cooper. However, this represented only a tiny fraction of the total ransom.
Parachute — One of the reserve parachutes was never found. It is possible Cooper used it to slow his descent, but it has never been recovered.
Fingerprint — No fingerprints were found on the plane or on any of the items Cooper left behind.

The Investigation

The FBI investigation — known as Norjak (Northwest Hijacking) — was one of the longest and most extensive in FBI history:

Over 800 suspects were investigated
The FBI identified several potential suspects, including Robert Rackstraw, Kenneth Christiansen, Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., and Sheridan Peterson
DNA testing was conducted on evidence from the crime scene, but no definitive match was found
The case was officially closed in 2016, though the FBI stated it would reopen the case if new evidence emerged

“He was calm. He was polite. He ordered a bourbon and smoked a cigarette. And then he jumped into the void.” — Flight attendant, 1971

The Mystery

Did Cooper Survive?

The central question is simple: did DB Cooper survive the jump? The evidence is mixed:

Arguments for Survival:

The money found in 1981 suggests Cooper landed near the Columbia River
Cooper’s calm demeanor and careful planning suggest he had skydiving experience
The parachute he used was a military-style canopy, designed for heavy loads
Some investigators believe Cooper had accomplices waiting on the ground

Arguments Against Survival:

The jump was made at night, in freezing rain, with winds of over 200 miles per hour
The terrain was rugged and mountainous, with dense forests and deep ravines
Cooper was wearing a suit and dress shoes — not appropriate for a mountain landing
No body, no parachute, and no equipment have ever been found

The Suspects

Over the years, numerous suspects have been proposed:

Robert Rackstraw: A former Special Forces soldier and convicted criminal, Rackstraw was identified as a suspect in the 2010s. He was an experienced skydiver with a criminal record, and some investigators believe he matches Cooper’s profile. However, Rackstraw denied involvement, and DNA testing did not confirm his guilt.

Kenneth Christiansen: A former paratrooper and airline employee, Christiansen was identified as a suspect in the 1990s. He had skydiving experience and a possible connection to the hijacking. However, DNA testing did not confirm his involvement.

Richard Floyd McCoy Jr.: McCoy hijacked a plane in 1972 — just seven months after Cooper’s hijacking — using a similar method. He was arrested and convicted, but he escaped from prison and was killed in a shootout with police. Some investigators believe McCoy was Cooper, but others dispute this theory.

The Cultural Impact

DB Cooper has become a cultural icon. The case has inspired books, films, television shows, and songs. Cooper’s image — a dark-suited man with a briefcase, jumping into the stormy night — has become one of the most recognizable images in American crime history.

The FBI’s decision to close the case in 2016 was controversial. Some argued that the case should remain open indefinitely, in the hope that new evidence might emerge. Others argued that the resources spent on the case could be better used elsewhere.

Evidence and Investigations

The Money

The discovery of $5,800 of the ransom money in 1981 was a significant development. The money was found in a sandbar along the Columbia River, near the town of Vancouver, Washington. The serial numbers matched those given to Cooper, confirming that the money had been part of the ransom.

However, the money raised as many questions as it answered. Did Cooper bury the money and it was later exposed by erosion? Was the money thrown from the plane and landed in the river? Or was it placed there deliberately as a hoax?

The FBI examined the money for fingerprints and DNA, but the results were inconclusive.

DNA Analysis

In 2001, the FBI conducted DNA analysis on evidence from the crime scene, including the tie clip left on the plane. A partial DNA profile was obtained, but it did not match any profiles in the FBI’s database.

In 2016, the FBI announced that it would use familial DNA — a technique used to identify the Golden State Killer — to search for relatives of DB Cooper. The results have not been publicly disclosed.

“We may never know who DB Cooper was. But we will never stop trying to find out.” — FBI spokesperson, 2016

What Do You Think?

DB Cooper hijacked a plane, collected $200,000, and parachuted into the night. He was never found. The FBI investigated for 45 years and closed the case without an answer.

Did Cooper survive the jump? Is he still alive? Did he live a quiet life with his ransom money? Or did he die in the wilderness, his body never recovered?

DB Cooper remains the only skyjacker in American history to never be caught. His case is a reminder that some mysteries are never solved — and that sometimes, the criminal wins.

Summary

DB Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in 1971, collected $200,000, and parachuted into the night
He was never found — no body, no parachute, no money (except $5,800 found in 1981)
The FBI investigated for 45 years — closing the case in 2016 without an answer
Numerous suspects have been proposed, but none have been definitively identified
Bottom line: DB Cooper is the only skyjacker in US history to never be caught, a mystery that continues to captivate the world