D.B. Cooper Hijacks Plane and Disappears Forever into the Pacific Northwest Wilderness

In late November 1971, the United States was in a turbulent period. The Vietnam War was ongoing, inflation was climbing, and air travel had become an increasingly popular but less secure form of transportation. Hijackings, though serious, were not uncommon in this era. Commercial planes had been diverted to Cuba, and ransom demands were beginning to surface in the media. Against this backdrop, a man boarded a flight in Portland, Oregon, that would forever leave his name etched into American folklore.

The Pacific Northwest, with its dense forests, rugged mountains, and unpredictable weather, served as both the setting and the stage for one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in U.S. history. On the eve of Thanksgiving, November 24, 1971, a man calling himself “Dan Cooper” — later mistakenly dubbed “D.B. Cooper” — carried out the only unsolved case of air piracy in American history.

Boarding Flight 305

Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727, was scheduled to fly from Portland International Airport to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a short journey of approximately 30 minutes. The flight carried 36 passengers and six crew members.

Around 2:00 p.m., a man who appeared to be in his mid-40s purchased a one-way $20 ticket at the Portland counter. He used cash and the name “Dan Cooper.” Witnesses later described him as about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall, of medium build, with dark hair, and wearing a business suit, white shirt, and black tie. He carried a black briefcase and seemed composed, polite, and unremarkable.

He took seat 18C near the rear of the cabin. Few noticed anything unusual as the plane took off under overcast skies, beginning a short, routine flight that would become anything but ordinary.

The Passing of the Note

Shortly after takeoff, Cooper summoned flight attendant Florence Schaffner by handing her a note. Believing it to be the typical advance from a businessman, she slipped it into her pocket without reading it. Cooper leaned closer and whispered, “Miss, you’d better look at that note. I have a bomb.”

The note stated that his briefcase contained explosives and that he wanted her to sit beside him. When Schaffner complied, Cooper opened the case slightly to reveal a bundle of wires, red sticks resembling dynamite, and a battery. Whether real or not, the display was convincing enough to terrify her.

Cooper dictated his demands calmly: $200,000 in cash, four parachutes — two primary and two reserve — and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the plane.

Communication with Authorities

The pilot was informed, and the demands were radioed to Seattle. The FBI and Northwest Orient officials immediately began arranging the ransom. The airline president authorized the payment, and local law enforcement agencies scrambled to secure parachutes.

As the plane circled the Puget Sound region to give authorities time, Cooper remained composed. Passengers were unaware of the situation, believing a mechanical delay was the cause of their extended flight. Flight attendants later noted that Cooper was calm, polite, and even considerate. He ordered bourbon and soda, paid his tab, and made small talk.

The Seattle Stopover

After more than two hours of circling, the plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport around 5:45 p.m. The aircraft taxied to a remote area. Lights were dimmed, and window shades were lowered to prevent snipers from targeting him.

A Northwest employee approached the plane and delivered a knapsack filled with $200,000 in twenty-dollar bills, along with the requested parachutes. Cooper inspected the ransom money and allowed the 36 passengers to leave the plane. Throughout the tense handoff, he remained calm and courteous.

With the passengers gone, only the crew and Cooper remained aboard. He ordered the pilots to set a course for Mexico City, specifying unusual conditions: the plane was to fly at 10,000 feet, at no faster than 200 knots, with landing gear down and flaps partially deployed. He insisted the rear airstair door remain operable, an unusual feature of the Boeing 727.

The Flight into Darkness

At 7:40 p.m., Flight 305 took off again, this time heading southward. The weather was stormy, with cold rain and winds over southern Washington. Cooper ordered the cabin crew to remain in the cockpit with the pilots, leaving him alone in the rear of the plane.

Around 8:00 p.m., a warning light indicated that the rear airstair had been deployed. Crew members felt a sudden change in cabin pressure. Then, somewhere over the thick forests of southwest Washington, near the Lewis River or Columbia River basin, the man known as Dan Cooper jumped into the night with a parachute and $200,000 in cash strapped to him.

The Search for Cooper

The crew landed the plane safely in Reno, Nevada, without Cooper. When authorities boarded, they found only the parachute cords, the tie Cooper had removed, and his bourbon glass. The hijacker had vanished into the wilderness.

Massive search operations began in the rugged forests of Washington and Oregon. Helicopters scoured the mountains, military personnel combed the ground, and divers searched rivers. The terrain was unforgiving: thick woods, steep hills, and freezing temperatures. No definitive trace of Cooper was found.

The Ransom Money Discovery

For years, the case remained open with no clear leads. Then, in 1980, a break seemed to appear. A young boy vacationing with his family on the Columbia River uncovered a bundle of decaying $20 bills buried in the sand on Tena Bar, near Vancouver, Washington. The serial numbers matched the ransom money given to Cooper.

The discovery reignited interest but raised more questions than answers. How had the money traveled miles from the supposed drop zone? Was it washed downstream, buried intentionally, or evidence of Cooper’s demise? No other currency from the ransom has ever been found in circulation.

The FBI Investigation

Over the decades, the FBI followed thousands of leads. Every tip, from possible suspects to confessions, was pursued. The Bureau analyzed Cooper’s tie, which contained microscopic particles suggesting possible ties to the aerospace industry. They interviewed known hijackers, veterans, and skydivers.

Several suspects emerged over the years. Richard Floyd McCoy, a former Army veteran who conducted a similar hijacking months later, was considered but later dismissed by the FBI. Others, including Robert Rackstraw, Duane Weber, and Kenneth Christiansen, were investigated. None could be conclusively tied to the crime.

Despite forensic testing, witness interviews, and decades of speculation, no one was ever charged.

Suspects and Theories

Theories about Cooper’s fate abound. Some believe he perished in the jump, unable to survive the stormy night in rough terrain. Others argue he was an experienced parachutist who planned the crime meticulously and escaped to live quietly under a new identity.

One theory suggests Cooper was a military-trained paratrooper who exploited the unique design of the Boeing 727. Another theory posits that he drowned in the Columbia River after missing his landing zone. Still others insist he survived and used the money cautiously, avoiding detection.

Closure of the Case

In July 2016, the FBI officially announced it was suspending active investigation of the case. The Bureau cited the need to allocate resources to more urgent matters. The hijacking of Flight 305, however, remains the only unsolved act of air piracy in U.S. history.

The suspension did not end public fascination. Amateur sleuths, journalists, and historians continue to probe the mystery. Cooper’s audacity, the lack of closure, and the cultural mythos surrounding his escape have kept the legend alive.

Cultural Impact

The D.B. Cooper case quickly transcended crime reports and became part of American culture. Books, documentaries, movies, and even songs have been inspired by the mysterious hijacker. Annual gatherings in Ariel, Washington, once celebrated the tale with “Cooper Days,” drawing enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists alike.

The mystery resonates because it embodies elements of rebellion, daring, and unsolved intrigue. Cooper has become a folk hero to some, a symbol of clever defiance to others, and a cautionary enigma to law enforcement.

Why the Mystery Endures

The unanswered questions keep the story alive: Who was Dan Cooper? Did he survive the jump? Where is the rest of the ransom money? How did he vanish so completely in a populated and monitored region?

In an age where modern technology often leaves few mysteries unsolved, the case of D.B. Cooper remains a rare exception — an enigma carved into the dark skies of the Pacific Northwest on Thanksgiving Eve, 1971.

Legacy of Flight 305

For the crew and passengers of Flight 305, the events of that night were terrifying but survivable. No one was physically harmed, yet all were witnesses to history. The incident changed airline security procedures forever, eventually leading to stricter boarding protocols, surveillance, and the reinforcement of cockpit doors.

The rear airstair design of the Boeing 727, used by Cooper to make his escape, was later modified to prevent it from being deployed in flight, a change that became known as the “Cooper vane.”

The Unsolved Legend

Over fifty years later, the legend of D.B. Cooper continues to fascinate and frustrate. With the FBI case files closed and suspects either deceased or unproven, the likelihood of a definitive resolution diminishes with time.

Whether Cooper died in the woods or lived out his days quietly, his story remains one of bold defiance, meticulous planning, and complete disappearance. In the annals of American crime, it stands alone — the perfect mystery.