Fugitive in the Sky: The Story of D.B. Cooper
Imagine a daring escape from a hijacked plane, a parachute jump into the unknown, and a mystery that has captivated the world for over five decades. This is the story of D.B. Cooper, the pseudonym of an unidentified man who, on November 24, 1971, hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in the United States. The flight, operated by Northwest Orient Airlines, was en route from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. Cooper managed to extort $200,000 in ransom before parachuting into the night, never to be seen again. The case remains the only unsolved air piracy in commercial aviation history, sparking endless speculation and investigation.
D.B. Cooper's audacious act took place on the eve of Thanksgiving, a time when many Americans were preparing to celebrate with family and friends. The hijacking began when Cooper, described as a quiet and unassuming man in his mid-40s, handed a note to a flight attendant shortly after takeoff. The note revealed his possession of a bomb and demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the plane for his escape.
Upon landing in Seattle, Cooper's demands were met, and he released the 36 passengers in exchange for the ransom and parachutes. The plane then took off again, heading south towards Mexico City, as per Cooper's instructions. However, somewhere over the rugged terrain of southwestern Washington, Cooper opened the rear stairway of the aircraft and leaped into the stormy night, leaving behind only a few clues and a trail of intrigue.
The FBI launched an extensive manhunt, known as "NORJAK" (Northwest Hijacking), scouring the wilderness where Cooper was believed to have landed. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the public's fascination, Cooper's identity and fate remain a mystery. Over the years, numerous theories have emerged, ranging from Cooper's survival and quiet life under a new identity to his demise in the wilderness.
In 1980, a young boy discovered a decaying package containing $5,800 in $20 bills along the Columbia River, which matched the serial numbers of the ransom money. This find reignited interest in the case but provided no definitive answers. The FBI officially closed the investigation in 2016, yet the legend of D.B. Cooper endures, inspiring books, documentaries, and even a dedicated fan base.
The story of D.B. Cooper is a testament to the enduring allure of unsolved mysteries and the human fascination with the unknown. It challenges our understanding of crime, survival, and the limits of human ingenuity. As we continue to ponder the fate of the enigmatic skyjacker, D.B. Cooper remains a symbol of the ultimate escape artist, forever a fugitive in the sky.