Learn the story of DB Cooper, the enigmatic hijacker who jumped from a plane with million-dollar loot and left the FBI with more questions than answers.
On November 24, 1971, a man under the alias Dan Cooper hijacked an airline plane Northwest Orient during a flight from Portland to Seattle. Cooper asked for a ransom $200,000 and four parachutesand after freeing the passengers, he parachuted from the aircraft in mid-flight, disappearing without a trace. Despite an extensive investigation, the FBI was never able to identify him or solve the case, which even today remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in American criminal history.
This daring aerial robbery fascinated researchers and the public for decades, inspiring numerous theories, books and even film productions. Cooper’s identity, his whereabouts and the destination of the money are unknowns that the FBI could not decipherwhich means that its history remains current, even today. Netflixrecognizing the fascination this case generates, produced a documentary series that examines the details of this unsolved crime.
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What was the DB Cooper robbery like?
On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper boarded flight 305 Northwest Orient Airlines bound for Seattle. Dressed smartly in a suit and tie, Cooper paid his ticket in cash without raising suspicions among other passengers. But everything changed when he handed a note to a flight attendant, who initially believed it was a joke. The message indicated that he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanded to speak with the pilot. To prove that he was not lying, he showed him the contents of the briefcase: cables and devices that looked like explosives. The situation quickly escalated into a kidnapping.
Cooper presented his demands: $200,000 in 20 dollar bills and four parachutes. Fearing a tragedy, the authorities complied with the kidnapper’s demands. Once the plane landed in seattleCooper exchanged the passengers for the money and parachutes, but retained some of the crew. Then, he ordered to take off again towards Mexico, although the true destination he planned was a mystery. The pilots were instructed to maintain a low altitude and reduced speed, conditions that would later be understood as part of a carefully calculated plan.
During the flight southward, somewhere between seattle and ReindeerCooper executed his risky escape. He opened the rear door of the plane and, in the middle of the night, jumped into the void with the money and one of the parachutes. The kidnapper disappeared into the darkness over a forested and mountainous area, braving bad weather and extreme conditions. Upon reaching their final destination, the crew reported Cooper missing, sparking one of the largest searches in FBI history.
Despite enormous efforts by authorities, including air and ground searches, intensive searches and witness interviews, DB Cooper was never found. For years, the FBI investigated hundreds of leads, but none led to the identification of the man or the recovery of the money. The case remained shrouded in mystery, and to this day, it remains the only unsolved air hijacking in US historywhich generated countless theories and speculations about the final fate of the enigmatic criminal.
The Netflix series inspired by the DB Cooper robbery
The enigma of DB Cooper was a source of inspiration for the creation of multiple works of fiction and documentaries, the latest to come out is the Netflix documentary titled DB Cooper: Where are you?. This four-episode miniseries premiered in Argentina on June 13 and explores the case from different angles, examining the theories, clues and possible suspects that have emerged over the years.
The series not only revives the mystery that captured the attention of generations, but also offers new perspectives on the case, using interviews with witnesses, experts and people who dedicated their lives to trying to solve it. With a detailed and well-researched approach, Netflix keeps alive the story of one of the most fascinating and baffling robberies of the 20th century.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
