DB Cooper’s unsolved skyjacking in Washington began 50 years ago today

Thanksgiving 1971 was pretty crazy in Washington. No, people didn’t roast turkeys and burn their houses down, but DB Cooper was preparing to wrap up one of the weirdest unsolved skyjackings in the nation. If you are not familiar with this story, you will experience something.

On November 24, 1971, a man who called himself “Dan Cooper” boarded a Boeing 727 in Portland, Oregon after buying a last-minute ticket. This fateful plane was destined for our own Seattle, Washington. After boarding the plane, Cooper sat in the back row and ordered a drink. During the ordering process, he handed the stewardess Florence Schaffner a slip of paper.

Recent Posts:
The first modern UFO sighting occurred in Washington this week in 1947
3 cities in Washington were just ranked among the most generous cities in the country

Thinking Cooper was flirting with her, Schaffner ignored the note Cooper told her to read. And when she did, the note, to her surprise, said, “Miss, I have a bomb here and I want you to sit next to me.” As the conductor sat down, Cooper opened a suitcase to reveal something that looked like “red dynamite sticks, a battery, and some copper wire”.

A rather polite way of telling someone you are going to take over a plane if you ask us.

Cooper then told her exactly what was going to happen. When the plane landed in Seattle, “he wanted $ 200,000 in cash, two rear parachutes and two front or reserve parachutes to attach to the main parachutes.” He also demanded that a tanker be available on the tarmac and also for catering to the flight crew. To make sure she got it, he said, “No funny things or I’ll do the job,” like in the blowing up of the plane.

Keep in mind that the plane also had 36 other passengers on board, none of whom knew what was happening. As the plane approached Seattle, it began to orbit, alerting passengers that something was wrong. The crew informed passengers that there was a technical problem while authorities on the ground tried to get cash, parachutes, fuel and food. In this scramble, they accidentally grabbed a dummy parachute that would not open.

When the plane landed, authorities tried to thwart Cooper by setting up snipers outside and telling him it was too cold to refuel. That didn’t fool Cooper, instead he picked up the plane’s phone, called the authorities, and asked that they “get this show out on the streets.” They did, and things only got stranger from then on.

Cooper requested that the plane be sent to Mexico City. For the duration of the flight, the pilot was instructed to “fly with the landing gear extended and the flaps at 15 degrees” and also “not to be allowed to fly higher than 10,000 feet”. Then, more puzzlingly, Cooper said they had to “take off and fly down the back stairs,” an accomplishment that most at the time thought was impossible.

Washington’s rugged landscape would make Cooper’s escape even more difficult. Photo via Shutterstock

The only people who knew the back stairs were okay to fly were in civil aviation circles. Cooper was obviously familiar and knowledgeable about aircraft, so this could be a piece of his mysterious identity that has never been confirmed to this day.

Back on the flight, Cooper was frustrated as things did not go as planned. The money ended up in the wrong pockets and he had to improvise a backpack by cutting up one of the parachutes. Fast forward and around 8:05 a.m., Cooper jumped off the plane into the dark and rainy night.

When the plane landed, authorities boarded and took whatever evidence they could and found that Cooper did not snap the dummy parachute, but rather a former military parachute that was difficult to handle. After a long search in Washington, and because of Cooper’s conditions and willingness, the FBI has claimed that he did not survive his jump. And since it hasn’t been found yet, we’ll never really know.

What we do know is that a plastic poster with instructions for the eight steps was found near Castle Rock, Washington in 1978, and 3 bundles marked twenties in 1980 near Vancouver, Washington on the banks of the Columbia River. To date, the case is open and there have been many people claiming to be DB Cooper, none of which has been confirmed.

So if you are bored, there is always no time to solve this 50 year old cold case. If you want to learn more, you can click here. Happy Thanksgiving, folks!

Inquisitive employees

With a curated list of what’s important in your city, Curiocity brings you the most relevant local foods, experiences, news, offers, and adventures. We’ll help you get the most out of your city, focusing on the easy-to-miss details so you’re always up to date.

read article