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D.B. Cooper Hijacking
On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727, collected $200,000 ransom, and parachuted into the night over Washington state. Despite the largest FBI manhunt in history, he was never found. Some ransom money surfaced in 1980. The only unsolved American hijacking.
1971
Pacific Northwest, USA
50+ witnesses
The only unsolved aircraft hijacking in American history.
The Hijacking
November 24, 1971:
- Portland to Seattle flight
- Northwest Orient 305
- Passed note to attendant
- Had a bomb
- Demanded ransom
The Ransom
What he got:
- $200,000 in $20 bills
- Four parachutes
- Plane refueled
- Passengers released
- Headed to Mexico
The Jump
What happened:
- Over southwestern Washington
- Night, rain, cold
- Rear stairs lowered
- He jumped
- Never seen again
The Search
Investigation:
- Largest FBI manhunt ever
- 45 years active
- No suspect confirmed
- Case closed 2016
- Still unsolved
The Money
What was found:
- $5,800 in bills
- Columbia River bank, 1980
- Matching serial numbers
- Rest never found
- Where did it go?
The Suspects
Who might he be:
- Richard Floyd McCoy
- Robert Rackstraw
- William J. Smith
- None confirmed
- Identity unknown