In 1971, a passenger collected $200,000, parachuted from a plane and vanished; the FBI investigated for years without discovering his identity

On the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a quiet man walked into an airline counter in Portland, Oregon, bought a one-way ticket to Seattle and boarded Flight #305. Within hours, he would exchange the passengers for parachutes and $200,000 in cash. Then, somewhere between Seattle and Reno, he disappeared into the darkness, as per a report by the FBI.

More than a half-century later, the mystery surrounding the man who called himself Dan Cooper remains unresolved. The FBI investigated the case for years, examined evidence, followed hundreds of leads and considered hundreds of suspects, yet never established who he really was or what happened after his jump.

Who was the man behind the name Dan Cooper?

Cooper appeared to be in his mid-40s and dressed like an ordinary businessman, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black tie. Before takeoff, he ordered a bourbon and soda. Shortly after 3 p.m., he handed a stewardess a note. He claimed he had a bomb inside his briefcase and asked her to sit beside him.


When she opened the inexpensive attaché case, Cooper showed her what appeared to be wires and red-colored sticks. He then dictated his demands.

The stewardess carried a second note to the captain. Cooper wanted four parachutes and $200,000 in twenty-dollar bills.

The ransom and parachutes were eventually delivered when the aircraft reached Seattle. Cooper released the 36 passengers but kept several members of the crew. The plane then departed again, heading toward Mexico City as instructed.

What happened after the plane left Seattle?

A little after 8 p.m., somewhere between Seattle and Reno, Cooper made his move. He jumped from the back of the aircraft carrying the ransom and a parachute. The pilots landed safely, but Cooper was gone.

That moment transformed an airplane hijacking into one of the FBI's most enduring mysteries.

The FBI learned about the crime while the flight was still in progress and immediately began an extensive investigation known as NORJAK, short for Northwest Hijacking.

Agents interviewed hundreds of people, followed leads across the country and searched the aircraft for evidence. By the fifth anniversary of the hijacking, investigators had considered more than 800 suspects. Only about two dozen remained under consideration.

Could the ransom money reveal what happened?

One of the most intriguing discoveries came years later. In 1980, a young boy found a rotting package containing $5,800 in twenty-dollar bills. The serial numbers matched those of the ransom money.

The discovery strengthened the possibility that Cooper may not have survived the jump.

The parachute he used could not be steered. His clothing and footwear were considered unsuitable for a rough landing, and he had jumped at night into a wooded area. The FBI report also notes that evidence suggested he was not the seasoned parachuting professional some had imagined.

His black J.C. Penney tie also became an important piece of evidence. Cooper removed it before jumping, and it later provided investigators with a DNA sample.

Was Richard Floyd McCoy the hijacker?

McCoy remains a favorite suspect among many people who have studied the case. Less than five months after Cooper's hijacking, McCoy was arrested for a similar airplane hijacking involving a parachute escape.

But investigators eventually ruled him out. Two flight attendants had provided nearly identical descriptions of Cooper, and McCoy did not match them. Other reasons also led investigators away from him.

Even the name D.B. Cooper contains another twist.

According to the FBI report, “D.B.” apparently came from the press. Investigators did question a man with those initials, but he was not the hijacker.

What happened to the $200,000 and to Cooper himself remains unanswered.

The FBI followed an extraordinary number of leads, examined physical evidence and investigated suspect after suspect. Yet the man who boarded the flight as Dan Cooper disappeared after his parachute jump, leaving behind the money mystery, the tie, the parachute evidence and a case that continues to fascinate amateur sleuths and law enforcement alike.

FAQs

Who was Dan Cooper?
He was the man who hijacked Northwest Orient Flight #305 in 1971 and disappeared after parachuting from the aircraft.

Was D.B. Cooper ever identified?
No. The FBI investigated hundreds of leads and suspects but did not establish his identity.