A chap who went by the name of DB Cooper, who is also referred to as Dan Cooper, bought a ticket for $20 to fly on a Northwest Airlines jetliner 727 from Portland to Seattle on the 24th November 1971. Wearing sunglasses, he took his seat on the plane along with a number of other passengers. He then started to smoke a cigarette and drink a glass of whisky.
Then he passed a note to a member of the flight crew that said: –
“ I have a bomb in my briefcase. I will use it if necessary. I want you to sit next to me. You are being hijacked”.
He demanded $200,000 and four parachutes and then agreed to release 36 passengers at Seattle. Having landed at Seattle, the passengers were released and the FBI authorized the payment of the ransom money and the handing over of the parachutes.
Then, remaining calm at all times, Dan Cooper ordered the captain to take off and fly towards Mexico with the specific request that the plane fly at less than 10,000 feet above sea level and at the minimum speed possible to keep the plane in the air. The cabin was also unpressurized at his request.
It then became apparent why he had asked for the parachutes as, whilst the plane was flying in the vicinity of Mount St. Helens located in southwest Washington, he jumped from the plane using the rear exit that he had asked to be left open wearing one of the parachutes.
Despite extensive searches being carried out, Mr Cooper was never seen again. However, in 1980, a young child who was walking close to the Columbia River came upon a total of $5,800 in $20 notes. It was some of the ransom money.
Many believe that Dan Cooper never survived what may well have proved to be a difficult jump into mountainous terrain but it remains a mystery as to why the body has never been recovered or any more of the money. One of the parachutes is on display in a museum.
It would appear that this hijacking is unlikely to be solved but you know what they say: “Never say never”!
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