The D.B. Cooper Hijacking

7 May

Investigators Still Search for the Skyjacker as Mystery Endures

On November 24, 1971, a man known as D.B. Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines flight, extorted $200,000 in ransom, and parachuted into the night somewhere over the Pacific Northwest. To this day, neither Cooper nor most of the stolen money has ever been found, making it the only unsolved airplane hijacking case in U.S. history. The case remains open, with new leads and occasional discoveries—such as metal fragments on a tie possibly linked to Cooper—continuing to fuel both official investigations and public fascination.

Despite extensive searches by the FBI and others, no definitive evidence revealing D.B. Cooper’s identity has emerged. Investigators, amateur sleuths, and true crime enthusiasts continue to examine every clue in hopes of solving this decades-old mystery.

Overview of the D.B. Cooper Hijacking

D.B. Cooper, an unidentified individual, committed an unusual and infamous act of air piracy in November 1971. Hijacking Northwest Orient Flight 305, Cooper parachuted into the night with $200,000, which has led to decades of speculation and investigation.

Summary of Events

On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in Portland, Oregon. Shortly after takeoff, he handed a note to a flight attendant claiming he had a bomb. Cooper demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and safe passage to Mexico.

The airline and FBI agreed to his demands, delivering the money and parachutes when the plane landed in Seattle, Washington. Cooper released the passengers in exchange for the ransom. He kept some crew members and instructed the pilots to fly toward Mexico City at low altitude and slow speed. Somewhere over the dense forests of Washington state, Cooper parachuted from the aft stairs of the Boeing 727 with the cash, disappearing without a trace.

Flight 305 and Northwest Orient Airlines

Northwest Orient Airlines operated Flight 305, a Boeing 727-100, traveling from Portland to Seattle. The route was selected for its routine and short-haul nature, typically lasting about 30 minutes. The flight's crew included Captain William Scott, First Officer Bob Rataczak, Flight Engineer Harold Anderson, and flight attendants.

The hijacker targeted this specific aircraft because the 727 had a distinctive rear stairway, which could be lowered in-flight. This feature played a crucial role in Cooper's escape. Northwest Orient Airlines and the FBI coordinated with the crew to follow Cooper's instructions while trying to ensure the safety of all on board.

Flight 305 became the scene of the only unsolved case of air piracy in U.S. history, partly due to the unique features of the Boeing 727 and the secrecy maintained by Cooper during the hijacking. Communication between the cockpit and authorities remained steady throughout the incident, allowing details to emerge swiftly as the event unfolded.

Timeline of November 1971

November 24, 1971

2:50 p.m.: D.B. Cooper boards Flight 305 in Portland.
3:00 p.m.: Shortly after takeoff, he presents his demands via a note to a flight attendant.
5:24 p.m.: The plane lands at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Cooper exchanges hostages for cash and parachutes.

6:30 p.m.: Flight 305 takes off from Seattle with Cooper, two pilots, a flight engineer, and one flight attendant on board.

Around 8:00 p.m.: Cooper opens the rear stairway and parachutes into the stormy, wooded wilderness of southwestern Washington.

The hijacking ended without violence to the crew or passengers. Despite a massive search operation by law enforcement, Cooper vanished, leaving behind few clues and cementing his place in American criminal history.

The Skyjacker’s Demands and Escape

D.B. Cooper, the alias of the unidentified skyjacker, executed a meticulously planned hijacking that has remained unsolved for decades. His specific demands, including the type of bills and parachutes, became central to both the hijacking and the investigation that followed.

Hijacker's Identity and Alias

The hijacker boarded Northwest Orient Flight 305 on November 24, 1971, using the name "Dan Cooper." This alias later became famously misreported as "D.B. Cooper," due to a mix-up by the press. Cooper was described as a middle-aged man, wearing a business suit, who seemed calm and composed throughout the ordeal.

No concrete evidence ever revealed his real identity. The FBI's investigation questioned various suspects, but none matched the profile or were positively identified as the skyjacker. The man known as "D.B. Cooper" remains unidentified to this day.

The Ransom Money and $20 Bills

One of Cooper's key demands was $200,000 in cash, to be delivered in $20 bills. This denomination was selected likely for its ease of use and portability. The ransom money, totaling 10,000 bills, was gathered from Seattle-area banks and was marked with specific serial numbers to help authorities later track them.

The cash was handed to Cooper along with parachutes after the plane landed in Seattle. Authorities kept detailed records of the serial numbers, and despite extensive efforts over the years—including notices sent to financial institutions—most of the bills have never been recovered. Only a small portion was found years later on the banks of the Columbia River.

Securing the Parachutes

Cooper's hijacking plan specified that he be provided with four parachutes: two primary and two reserve. He insisted these be civilian parachutes, not military models. His detailed request suggested an understanding of parachuting equipment and aviation safety.

Authorities secured the parachutes from a local skydiving school and delivered them to the aircraft. Cooper later used one of these parachutes to escape from the plane mid-flight, leaping into the night over a wooded region of the Pacific Northwest. The remaining parachutes were found unused and left aboard the aircraft.

Search and Investigation by the FBI

Federal agents immediately took the lead in the D.B. Cooper case, launching what would become one of the most extensive manhunts in U.S. history. Their efforts spanned decades, involved thousands of leads, and eventually shaped it into a cold case that continues to attract public interest.

Initial FBI Response

The FBI began investigating within hours of the hijacking on November 24, 1971. Agents interviewed passengers and crew, collected physical evidence, and coordinated with other law enforcement agencies across state lines.

Evidence Collected:

Parachute rigging manuals left on the plane
A black clip-on tie believed to belong to Cooper
Fingerprints and seat fibers

Immediate press coverage forced the FBI to navigate public scrutiny, releasing sketches and key facts to gain tips from the public. Investigators quickly labeled the case NORJAK ("Northwest Hijacking") for internal tracking.

The NORJAK Task Force

The agency formed the NORJAK Task Force, a specialized team dedicated to unraveling the mystery. This unit analyzed ransom money serial numbers, reviewed witness statements, and followed up on thousands of leads.

Key NORJAK Task Force Activities:

Coordinating with local and state police across Washington, Oregon, and neighboring regions
Reviewing and cataloging over 800 suspects within five years
Using Freedom of Information Act releases to share redacted files with researchers

Agents constructed suspect lists using criminal records, airline employee databases, and military parachuting experience. Despite early hopes, none matched the description or evidence with enough certainty for charges.

Manhunt and Search Efforts

Field agents led searches of forests along the estimated jump path between Seattle and Reno. Specialized teams combed remote terrain on foot, in helicopters, and with tracking dogs, focusing particularly along the Columbia River basin.

The FBI tracked every bill in the $200,000 ransom, marking each serial number. Some of the money surfaced in 1980, found buried near the river by a young boy, but most remains lost.

Despite extensive sweeps and follow-up investigations, Cooper’s fate and identity remain unresolved. The case was officially closed in 2016, but continues to generate Freedom of Information Act requests and theories as the only unsolved commercial air hijacking in U.S. history.

Key Evidence and Clues

The D.B. Cooper hijacking case remains unsolved, with several key pieces of evidence and clues that have both guided and frustrated investigators for decades. Authorities have recovered artifacts, physical traces, and partial answers, but the full story stays elusive.

Recovered Items and Physical Evidence

Investigators recovered a black clip-on tie, a mother-of-pearl tie clip, and eight filter-tipped Raleigh cigarette butts from the seat Cooper occupied on the Northwest Orient flight. Fingerprints were found, but none matched a known suspect.

The tie itself provided a major lead, as it was left behind on the seat after Cooper’s jump. Other items, like the hijacker’s handwritten note and a brown paper bag for carrying the ransom, were never recovered.

No parachute or body was found, despite extensive searches in the wilderness below the flight path. The lack of remains has contributed significantly to the ongoing mystery.

Titanium Particles and Other Forensics

A breakthrough in forensic analysis came decades after the hijacking when microscopic particles of titanium and other rare earth minerals were found embedded in the fabric of Cooper’s tie.

The presence of these particles suggests Cooper may have worked in a field where such materials were common, such as manufacturing or chemical engineering. Investigators have used this clue to narrow the list of possible suspects.

The tie also contained particles of stainless steel, another indicator of proximity to specific industrial environments. DNA testing on the tie was inconclusive, and the cigarette butts—which might have yielded DNA—were lost by the FBI.

Ransom Money Discoveries

In 1980, a young boy digging in the sand along the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington, found three bundled packets of weathered $20 bills. The serial numbers matched those of the ransom money given to Cooper.

This discovery was significant because it provided physical proof that at least some of the cash survived the jump. However, most of the ransom money has never been recovered, despite repeated searches of the area.

The location and condition of the bills raised new questions about Cooper’s fate and the possible route he took after leaving the plane. No further traces of the ransom money have turned up, leaving investigators with more questions than answers.

Aircraft and Escape Route

D.B. Cooper selected a commercial airliner with specialized features to carry out his plan. The path of the aircraft and Cooper’s jump site were shaped by both geography and his specific demands.

Using a Boeing 727 for the Escape

Cooper’s choice of the Boeing 727 was deliberate. The plane’s design included a rear stairway, known as the "aft air stairs," which allowed exits during flight. This unique feature made it possible for someone to parachute out of the rear of the craft without alerting the flight crew or passengers in the main cabin.

During the hijacking, Cooper demanded that the aircraft fly at a lower altitude and slower speed—approximately 10,000 feet and 170 knots. This optimized both the oxygen conditions inside the cabin and the survivability of a parachute jump. He specifically requested four parachutes, likely to convince authorities he might force others to jump with him, ensuring the equipment wasn’t tampered with.

Cooper instructed the crew to leave the rear stairway deployed after takeoff from Seattle. This enabled him to access the exit quickly and quietly. The pilot and crew remained in the cockpit, sealed off from Cooper’s activities in the rear of the plane.

Flight Path over the Pacific Northwest

The aircraft departed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on a route toward Reno, Nevada, as requested by Cooper. He ordered a flight path that flew south over the dense forests and rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest. This region provided multiple remote areas suitable for disappearing after parachuting from a plane.

Key details of the route included:

Maintaining a heading toward Mexico City, as initially demanded by Cooper, though the first stop was Reno for refueling.
Flying at low speed and altitude, just below standard pressurization levels, to allow a safe jump.
Avoiding heavily populated or urban areas to increase his chance of vanishing.

The aircraft’s course was tracked closely by military and law enforcement planes, but poor weather and the vast wilderness complicated efforts to pinpoint where Cooper exited. Estimates place the jump over southern Washington, near the Lewis River, but no one witnessed his descent.

Suspects and Theories

Investigators have pursued a range of leads over decades, focusing on individuals whose backgrounds, skills, or behavior matched details from the hijacking. Theories often revolve around military training, knowledge of aviation, and whether the suspect could have survived the risky escape.

Notable Suspects: Robert Rackstraw and Others

Robert W. Rackstraw, a Vietnam veteran with experience in explosives and parachuting, has often been linked to the case. Authorities were interested due to his criminal background and statements that appeared to hint at secret knowledge, though no direct evidence has tied him to the crime.

Other suspects have included Kenneth Christiansen (a former airline employee), Richard McCoy (a skyjacker who committed a similar hijacking), and individuals with sudden, unexplained wealth after 1971. The variety in suspect profiles reflects the difficulty investigators have faced in narrowing down the list.

Despite interviews and analysis, including questioning a man with the initials “D.B.” who was later cleared, the FBI has stated that no solid link has been confirmed to any particular suspect. None of those investigated could be definitively proven to be the real Dan Cooper.

Profile of D.B. Cooper

The skyjacker known as D.B. Cooper is generally believed to have been in his 40s, calm and methodical during the hijacking, and knowledgeable about aircraft. Witnesses described him as an average-built man, dressed in a business suit and black tie.

Cooper provided detailed instructions during the hijack, referencing technical aspects of the Boeing 727 and flight operations. This has led many to theorize he had a background in aviation or military service, possibly as a paratrooper or flight engineer.

No evidence of unexplained wealth appeared in official records after the hijacking, which fuels debate about whether Cooper survived his jump. Items recovered from the plane, like a tie clip and a tie containing rare metals, suggest the hijacker may have worked in the engineering or chemicals industry before the crime.

Ongoing Search and Legacy

The D.B. Cooper hijacking continues to attract both investigative scrutiny and wide public curiosity. New evidence and active communities keep the story alive over five decades since the skyjacking occurred.

Recent Developments in the Case

The investigation into the D.B. Cooper case officially ended in 2016, but new leads occasionally emerge. In recent years, researchers found a microscopic metal fragment on the alleged hijacker's tie. This fragment suggested contact with aerospace or chemical industries, prompting investigators to explore potential suspects with such backgrounds.

Some private individuals, often called "Cooper chasers," have continued to analyze the case. These independent searches include examining the ransom money, DNA testing, and tracing possible suspects. Occasionally, claims surface indicating investigators may have identified the real Cooper, but no definitive evidence confirms his identity.

Even after the FBI closed the case, certain findings continue to be reanalyzed. Physical evidence—such as money found along the Columbia River—adds more questions than answers. These ambiguities keep the mystery active and a subject of ongoing study.

Public and Media Interest

The Cooper case quickly gained international attention. Over the years, the story has appeared in documentaries, news reports, and dramatic reenactments, helping to maintain public fascination. The hijacking stands as the only unsolved skyjacking in U.S. history, further fueling interest worldwide.

Enthusiasts and amateur sleuths continually share theories on online forums and podcasts. DB Cooper is sometimes referenced in pop culture, adding to the mythos. Major anniversaries of the 1971 skyjacking often result in renewed media coverage, interviews with investigators, and updates on the latest discoveries.

Interest has not waned in decades. The blend of adventure, unresolved questions, and the audacious nature of the hijacking ensures a regular cycle of renewed curiosity from both new followers and long-term enthusiasts.

Enduring Mystery of D.B. Cooper

The D.B. Cooper hijacking remains one of the most studied unsolved cases in American criminal history. Despite extensive investigation and public fascination, the true identity and fate of the skyjacker who vanished in 1971 is still unknown.

Remaining Questions and Unsolved Aspects

Although the FBI formally closed its investigation in 2016, key questions remain unanswered. No conclusive evidence has identified Cooper, nor have any human remains been linked to the case.

Some objects, such as a decaying ransom money bundle, were found near the Columbia River, but their significance remains debated. Investigators also analyzed particles and fibers from Cooper's tie, suggesting he may have worked in a specific industrial environment, but nothing definitive has emerged.

Major unresolved elements include:

The exact method and location of Cooper’s escape.
Whether he survived the parachute jump.
How he managed to avoid detection if he did survive.

These mysteries contribute to the cold case status of the hijacking.

Influence on Skyjacking History

The D.B. Cooper incident had a direct impact on aviation security policies and the approach to skyjacking cases. Airlines and the government responded by introducing new safety measures, including the installation of "Cooper vanes" to prevent rear stairways from being lowered mid-flight.

Media coverage of the case influenced public perceptions of air travel risks. The hijacking also inspired changes in how law enforcement coordinated responses to airborne crimes.

A summary of the influence:

Change Description Cooper vane Prevented in-flight stair use for escapes Security checks Stricter passenger screening implemented Policy updates Enhanced protocols for hijacking responses

The D.B. Cooper case became a defining event in skyjacking history, shaping policy and becoming a reference point for similar cold cases.

Ijaz Malik

The D.B. Cooper Hijacking

Investigators Still Search for the Skyjacker as Mystery Endures