The only unsolved hijacking in U.S. aviation history is the infamous case of D.B. Cooper. This mysterious incident, which occurred over 50 years ago, continues to captivate the public and remains a unique puzzle in law enforcement annals.
The Enduring Enigma of D.B. Cooper
D.B. Cooper is the popular alias given to an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in 1971. His true identity and fate have never been definitively determined, making his case a legendary unsolved mystery. Despite decades of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), no one has ever been charged or successfully identified as Cooper.
The Daring Hijacking Event
On November 24, 1971, a man identifying himself as Dan Cooper boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing plane. After the flight took off from Portland, Oregon, he informed a flight attendant that he had a bomb and made a series of demands. These demands included $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel truck for refueling upon landing.
Upon the plane's arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Cooper received the cash and parachutes. He then released the passengers and some crew members. With only the pilots and a flight attendant remaining onboard, he instructed them to take off again, setting a course for Mexico City at a low altitude and slow speed. Somewhere over southwestern Washington, Cooper executed an extraordinary escape plan: he leaped out of the Boeing aircraft with the cash and a parachute into the dark, stormy night.
The Unsolved Mystery
Since that night, no definitive trace of D.B. Cooper has been found. The vast search efforts, which covered rugged terrain and forested areas, yielded little evidence. While some of the ransom money was discovered by a boy along the Columbia River in 1980, the vast majority of the cash and Cooper himself have never resurfaced. This distinct lack of resolution has cemented the D.B. Cooper case as the only unsolved hijacking in U.S. aviation history, recently marking its 53rd anniversary.
Recent Developments and Lingering Questions
The fascination with D.B. Cooper endures, fueled by ongoing investigations and occasional new discoveries. Notably, the parachute used by the hijacker to leap out of the Boeing plane with the $200,000 in cash may have been found, offering a fresh, albeit unconfirmed, lead in this decades-old mystery. Despite numerous theories, suspects, and relentless efforts by investigators and amateur sleuths, the identity of D.B. Cooper and the outcome of his audacious escape remain one of America's most enduring and perplexing cold cases.
Here's a summary of key facts about the D.B. Cooper case:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hijacker Alias | D.B. Cooper (also known as Dan Cooper) |
| Date of Incident | November 24, 1971 |
| Aircraft Type | Boeing 727 |
| Ransom Demanded | $200,000 in twenty-dollar bills |
| Escape Method | Parachute jump from the plane's aft stairs |
| Status | Only unsolved U.S. aviation hijacking |
| Current Status | Case remains open, FBI no longer actively investigates, but follows new leads. |
