The Mystery of D.B. Cooper is one of the most enduring and intriguing unsolved cases in the annals of American crime and aviation history. This enigmatic figure, whose true identity remains a mystery, captured the public's imagination and has been the subject of countless investigations, theories, and debates.

Background

On November 24, 1971, the day before Thanksgiving, a man using the alias Dan Cooper boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in Portland, Oregon, bound for Seattle, Washington. Described as a middle-aged man wearing a business suit, he appeared to be just another passenger among the holiday travelers.

The Hijacking

Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant, which revealed his intentions: he had a bomb and was hijacking the plane. His demands were specific: $200,000 in cash (equivalent to over $1 million today), four parachutes, and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the aircraft for a getaway. Remarkably calm and polite, Cooper's demeanor during the hijacking earned him a sort of grudging respect from the crew and the other passengers.