D. B. Cooper
Unidentified hijacker who vanished after a 1971 parachute escape.
On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper—later misidentified as D. B. Cooper due to a reporter’s error—hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727 traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. He purchased a one-way cash ticket at Portland International Airport for the short flight, listing his name as Dan Cooper. Witnesses described him as a white male in his mid-40s with dark hair and brown eyes, dressed in a dark business suit, white shirt, thin black tie, black raincoat, and brown shoes, carrying a black attaché case and a brown paper bag. After takeoff, he handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner, who initially ignored it, but he then whispered that he had a bomb. When she looked inside his case, she saw a large battery connected by wires to red cylinders resembling dynamite. Cooper demanded $200,000 in ransom and four parachutes—two front and two back—implying he might take a hostage to discourage sabotage. The flight circled Puget Sound for two hours while authorities assembled the money and parachutes. After landing in Seattle, Cooper released the passengers and ordered the crew to refuel for a flight to Mexico City with a stop in Reno, Nevada. Shortly after departing Seattle, he opened the aft door, deployed the airstair, and parachuted into a remote, heavily wooded area of Southwest Washington. His true identity and fate remain unknown. In 1980, a small portion of the ransom—$5,800—was found along the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington, but the rest was never recovered. The FBI investigated for 45 years without reaching definitive conclusions, officially suspending active work in 2016. The hijacking prompted major aviation security upgrades, including metal detectors, mandatory baggage inspection, and scrutiny of cash-paying same-day ticket buyers. It remains the only documented unsolved case of air piracy in commercial aviation history.
- field
- Air piracy
- known_for
- Hijacking Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 and parachuting to an uncertain f
- status
- Unidentified; case unsolved
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Disappeared Date
- 1971 · 11 · 24 (November 24, 1971)
- Disappeared Status
- Missing/Unidentified
- Other Names
- Dan Cooper (actual alias used)
- Known For
- Hijacking a Boeing 727 and parachuting from the plane mid flight before disappearing
- Criminal Charge
- Air piracy and violation of the Hobbs Act
- Capture Status
- Fugitive, never identified or captured
- Conviction Status
- Never apprehended
- Wanted By
- FBI
- Wanted Since
- November 24, 1971 (case was closed in 2016)
- Website
- https: · www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/db-cooper-hijacking
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On November 24, 1971 (Thanksgiving Eve), a man approached the Northwest Orient Airlines counter at Portland International Airport and bought a one-way ticket on Flight 305 using cash. He listed his name as 'Dan Cooper.' Eyewitnesses described him as a white male in his mid-40s, with dark hair and brown eyes, wearing a black or brown business suit, a white shirt, a thin black tie, a black raincoat, and brown shoes. He carried a black attaché case and a brown paper bag, and took seat 18-E in the last row. Shortly after takeoff at 2:50 pm PST, Cooper handed a note to flight attendant Schaffner. When she opened it, it read, 'Miss—I have a bomb in my briefcase and want you to sit by me.' Schaffner saw what appeared to be a bomb: a large cylindrical battery attached with wires to two rows of four red cylinders. Cooper demanded $200,000 in a knapsack and four parachutes. Flight attendant Tina Mucklow later described Cooper as not nervous, 'rather nice,' and 'not cruel or nasty.' He remarked, 'Looks like Tacoma down there,' and correctly noted McChord Air Force Base was a 20-minute drive from Sea-Tac. When Mucklow asked why he chose Northwest, Cooper laughed and said, 'It's not because I have a grudge against your airline, it's just because I have a grudge.' After landing at Sea-Tac around 5:46 pm, Cooper released the passengers and directed the crew to refuel for a flight to Mexico City with a stop in Reno, Nevada. After takeoff from Seattle, Cooper opened the aft door, deployed the airstair, and parachuted to an uncertain fate over a remote, heavily wooded area of Southwest Washington. Because of a reporter's error, the hijacker became known as D. B. Cooper.
Reader's Guide
The D. B. Cooper hijacking prompted immediate and major upgrades to security measures for airports and commercial aviation. Metal detectors were installed at airports, baggage inspection became mandatory, and passengers who paid cash for tickets on the day of departure were selected for additional scrutiny. The hijacking also inspired several imitators—known as the D. B. Cooper copycat hijackings—the following year. The FBI maintained an active investigation for 45 years, building an extensive case file but reaching no definitive conclusions about Cooper's identity. In 1980, a small portion of the ransom money—$5,800—was found along the banks of the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington. The discovery renewed public interest but yielded no additional information, and the remaining money was never recovered. The FBI officially suspended active investigation in 2016, though journalists, professional investigators, and amateur sleuths continue to pursue numerous theories. The Cooper hijacking is the only documented unsolved case of air piracy in the history of commercial aviation.
Did You Know?
- Cooper ordered a bourbon and 7-Up from flight attendant Tina Mucklow after takeoff.
- The $200,000 ransom consisted of 10,000 unmarked $20 bills weighing approximately 19 pounds.
- Cooper correctly noted that McChord Air Force Base was only a 20-minute drive from Sea-Tac.
- Flight attendant Tina Mucklow described Cooper as 'not nervous' and 'rather nice.'
- A reporter's error caused the hijacker to be widely called D. B. Cooper instead of Dan Cooper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is D. B. Cooper?
D. B. Cooper is the name given to an unidentified man who seized control of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971, then jumped from the plane with a ransom and was never seen again. His true identity remains unknown to this day.
What exactly did D. B. Cooper do during the hijacking?
He boarded a commercial flight, demanded a ransom, and after the plane landed and refueled, he released the passengers and forced the pilots to fly to a low altitude over rural Southwest Washington. He then opened the rear door and parachuted into the night, vanishing without a trace.
Why is D. B. Cooper considered so notorious?
His case stands as the sole unsolved act of air piracy in the history of commercial aviation. No other hijacker in that era managed to disappear so completely that authorities never made an identification or arrest.
Was D. B. Cooper ever identified or caught?
No. Despite decades of FBI investigation, public tips, and multiple search efforts, no one has been confirmed as the hijacker. The case remains officially open and unsolved.
What is known about D. B. Cooper's background or nationality?
Very little is confirmed; investigators presume he was American based on his language and behavior, but his exact origins, occupation, and even his real name have never been established. All that is known is that he was a fit adult male who could operate a parachute under pressure.
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