America’s Greatest Unsolved Mysteries
Throughout history, the United States has been home to countless unsolved mysteries that continue to baffle investigators and conspiracy theorists alike. From the disappearance of Amelia Earhart to the identity of the Zodiac Killer, these enigmatic cases have captivated the public for decades. But perhaps none is as daring and audacious as the story of DB Cooper—the man who hijacked a plane, collected a ransom, and then vanished without a trace. Who was he? Did he survive? Or was he lost to the elements, his secrets buried forever? Let’s dive deep into the case of the only unsolved airplane hijacking in U.S. history, the mystery of DB Cooper.
A Flight Like No Other
On November 24, 1971, a seemingly ordinary Northwest Orient Airlines flight took off from Portland, bound for Seattle. Aboard were 36 passengers and six crew members. Among them was a mysterious man dressed in a business suit, black tie, and sunglasses, who identified himself as Dan Cooper.
Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner. Thinking it was just another passenger’s phone number, she ignored it—until Cooper whispered, “Miss, I have a bomb.”
The note contained shocking demands:
- $200,000 in cash
- Four parachutes
- A fuel truck ready upon landing
To prove he wasn’t bluffing, Cooper revealed a briefcase containing wires and red cylinders. The pilots alerted authorities, and the airline president agreed to comply with Cooper’s demands to avoid casualties. After three tense hours of circling Seattle, the plane landed. Cooper released the passengers in exchange for the ransom and parachutes. He then ordered the pilots to take off again, setting course for Mexico City at 10,000 feet and the slowest possible speed.
A Leap into the Unknown
At 8:13 PM, flying over a stormy wilderness, Cooper lowered the rear stairway of the Boeing 727 and jumped into the night, disappearing without a trace. When the plane landed in Reno, Cooper was gone—leaving behind only a black tie, cigarette butts, and 66 fingerprints.
A Break in the Case: 1979
Eight years after the hijacking, the case took a new turn. Tom Bohan, a pilot for Continental Airlines, contacted the FBI. On the night of the hijacking, he had been flying another aircraft 4,000 feet above and four minutes behind Cooper’s plane.
Bohan recalled the severe storm that night and suggested that the FBI’s calculations of Cooper’s drop zone were off by 80 degrees. Based on his experience, he believed Cooper landed near the drainage area of the Washougal River.
A few months later, his theory was validated.
Discovery of the Ransom Money
In 1980, an eight-year-old boy playing on the Columbia River bank made a stunning discovery: $5,800 in decayed $20 bills, still bound with rubber bands.
The serial numbers matched the ransom money given to Cooper. Despite further searches in the area, no additional money or evidence was found.
This led FBI agent Richard Tosaw to believe that Cooper may have drowned in the freezing river that night. However, no body or parachute was ever recovered.
An interesting twist: The boy who found the money was allowed to keep a portion as a reward. Years later, in 2008, he auctioned 15 of the $20 bills for a total of $37,000—a testament to the legend of DB Cooper.
New Clues: The Tie and Microscopic Evidence
The only physical evidence left behind was Cooper’s tie and tie clip. In 2009, a research team used advanced technology to analyze the microscopic particles on the tie to solve the Mystery of DB Cooper.
They found traces of:
- Unalloyed titanium
- Aluminum
- Titanium-antimony alloy
These materials were used in aeronautical engineering and chemical manufacturing at the time, leading experts to theorize that Cooper may have worked for Boeing or a similar aircraft company.
“The Periodic Table of clues,” experts suggested, “pointed toward an individual with direct access to aircraft manufacturing. Could Cooper have worked in the very industry he hijacked?”
The FBI’s Hunt for Cooper
The FBI interviewed passengers and crew to create sketches of Cooper. It took three attempts over two years before they arrived at the most accurate depiction of his face.
Based on these sketches, the FBI identified over 800 potential suspects, with 20 being seriously investigated.
Suspect #1: Richard McCoy
Richard McCoy, a Vietnam War veteran, was arrested five months after Cooper’s hijacking for an eerily similar crime:
- He hijacked a Boeing 727
- Demanded four parachutes and $500,000
- Deployed the rear stairway and jumped
Unlike Cooper, McCoy was caught within two days and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Some FBI agents believed McCoy was Cooper, but evidence later proved he was in Las Vegas the night of Cooper’s hijacking.
In a twist of fate, McCoy escaped prison in 1974, leading to a shootout with authorities in which he was killed.
Suspect #2: Robert Rackstraw
Robert Rackstraw, another Vietnam War veteran, was suspected due to his background in explosives and aircraft theft. His facial features closely matched the Cooper sketches.
In 2016, TV producer Thomas Colbert led a private investigation and released a book, The Last Master Outlaw, claiming that Rackstraw was Cooper. He even made a documentary titled DB Cooper: Case Closed, gathering a team of 40 investigators, including former FBI agents.
However, the FBI removed him from the suspect list in 1979 due to a lack of conclusive evidence. Rackstraw denied all allegations until his death in 2019.
The Case Goes Cold
On July 12, 2016, the FBI officially closed the case, leaving Cooper’s identity a mystery.
Many theorists believe the FBI gave up too soon and that crucial evidence may still exist.
Did Cooper Survive?
Many believe Cooper couldn’t have survived the jump due to the freezing temperatures, high winds, and rugged terrain. However, history shows that other hijackers who parachuted from planes survived and were later captured.
Adding to The Mystery of DB Cooper no body, parachute, or personal belongings were ever recovered.
So, what do you think? Did Cooper make it out alive? Or did he vanish forever into the stormy night?
