Complete Timeline of the DB Cooper Hijacking Incident (November 24, 1971)
Pre-Hijacking Events
Afternoon, November 24, 1971:
A middle-aged man dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, black tie, and sunglasses purchases a one-way ticket under the name Dan Cooper (later misreported as DB Cooper) for $20. The ticket is for Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a 30-minute flight from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington on a Boeing 727-100 aircraft.
Flight Details:
Flight 305 is a short domestic flight with 36 passengers and a crew of 6. The plane is scheduled to depart at 2:50 PM PST.
The Hijacking
2:50 PM PST – Takeoff:
The flight departs Portland on time. Shortly after takeoff, Cooper hands a note to flight attendant Florence Schaffner. Initially believing it to be a casual flirtation, she pockets the note without reading it.
2:55 PM PST – Threat Revealed:
Cooper gestures for Schaffner to read the note, which states that he has a bomb. To emphasize his threat, he opens his briefcase to show her wires, red sticks, and a battery, resembling an explosive device.
2:58 PM PST – Demands Communicated:
Cooper instructs Schaffner to write down his demands:
- $200,000 in cash (in $20 bills)
- Four parachutes (two primary and two reserve)
- A fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the plane for further travel
He also requests no police interference, threatening to detonate the bomb if his instructions are not followed.
Negotiations and Landing
3:00 PM PST – Communication with Authorities:
The pilot, William A. Scott, notifies Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) air traffic control of the hijacking. The airline and FBI immediately begin coordinating to meet Cooper's demands. The passengers remain unaware of the situation, believing the flight is experiencing a minor delay.
5:24 PM PST – Landing in Seattle:
After circling Puget Sound for nearly two hours to allow authorities time to prepare the ransom, Flight 305 lands at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Cooper allows the release of all passengers in exchange for the money and parachutes. The crew is instructed to remain onboard.
5:39 PM PST – Delivery of Ransom and Parachutes:
An airline operations manager delivers the cash and parachutes to the plane. Cooper verifies the ransom but refuses military parachutes offered by authorities, opting instead for civilian models.
7:40 PM PST – Takeoff from Seattle:
Cooper orders the flight crew to set a course for Mexico City at the slowest airspeed possible (approximately 150 knots) and an altitude of 10,000 feet. He insists on keeping the landing gear down and the cabin depressurized. The rear airstair is also left deployable, an unusual request.
The Jump and Disappearance
8:00 PM PST – Flight Over Southern Washington:
Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, Cooper sends all crew members to the cockpit and remains alone in the main cabin. The flight crew observes a sudden shift in cabin pressure, indicating the rear airstair has been opened.
8:13 PM PST – The Jump:
Somewhere over the dense forests of southwestern Washington, in heavy rain and strong winds, Cooper jumps from the aircraft with the ransom money and a parachute. The exact location of his jump remains uncertain, as the plane's precise position is unknown at the time of the pressure drop.
Aftermath
Early Hours, November 25, 1971 – Search Begins:
The FBI launches an extensive search operation in the suspected drop zone, focusing on the wilderness near the Lewis River in Washington. The search includes ground teams, helicopters, and boats, but no trace of Cooper or the money is found.
1972 – Investigation Expands:
Despite questioning hundreds of potential suspects and circulating detailed descriptions based on eyewitness accounts, the FBI is unable to identify Cooper. His case becomes the only unsolved hijacking in U.S. aviation history.
Key Developments in Later Years
1980 – Discovery of Ransom Money:
An 8-year-old boy finds $5,800 of decomposed $20 bills buried along the Columbia River, near Tena Bar in Washington. The serial numbers match the ransom money, but no other evidence is uncovered.
2016 – Case Closed:
After 45 years, the FBI officially suspends its investigation, citing resource limitations and lack of new evidence.
Unanswered Questions
Who Was DB Cooper?
Despite multiple suspects and theories, Cooper's true identity remains unknown.
Did He Survive the Jump?
Authorities and experts debate whether Cooper could have survived the dangerous jump given the conditions and his lack of professional equipment.
Where Is the Money?
Except for the small amount found in 1980, the majority of the ransom money has never surfaced.
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