Newly Released FBI Files Shed Light on DB Cooper Hijacking Mystery

On July 12, 2025, the FBI unveiled a trove of previously classified documents that detail the long-standing investigation into the infamous hijacking of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 by a man known as DB Cooper. This case, which has captivated the American public for over five decades, remains the only unsolved airplane hijacking in U.S. history, with the perpetrator paragliding into obscurity after securing over $300,000 in ransom money.

The files, totaling 398 pages, include numerous leads, suspect profiles, and insights into various hoaxes that emerged during the investigation. According to the FBI, the documents reveal a range of tips and suspects that the agency pursued throughout the years, including a prominent hoax that defrauded a newspaper editor of tens of thousands of dollars.

The hijacking occurred on November 24, 1971, when a man, later dubbed DB Cooper, purchased a ticket for the short flight from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington. Described as a white male in his mid-40s, Cooper was notably unassuming, dressed in a dark suit and black tie. Shortly after takeoff, he handed a note to a flight attendant, claiming he had a bomb and demanding $200,000 in ransom, along with two parachutes.

Following a tense two-hour standoff, the plane landed safely at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the ransom was exchanged for the release of the 35 passengers aboard. Cooper, however, remained on the aircraft and ordered it to take off again, instructing the crew to head towards Mexico City. In a dramatic turn, he parachuted from the plane with the ransom money, disappearing into the night.

The latest FBI files have brought renewed interest in the case, as they contain details about various suspects considered over the years. Notably, one suspect was a man in a wheelchair; however, agents determined that the hijacker likely had full use of all extremities. Other leads included former pilots and members of skydiving clubs who bore physical similarities to Cooper, but no conclusive evidence ever emerged.

Karl Fleming, a contributing editor for Newsweek, infamously placed an advertisement in several newspapers inviting Cooper to come forward, claiming he met with someone who identified as Cooper. The man allegedly produced $20 bills from the ransom, leading Fleming to pay him $30,000 for an exclusive interview. This turned out to be a hoax, resulting in the conviction of two men for impersonating Cooper.

The allure of the DB Cooper case has permeated American culture, with numerous books, films, and even merchandise dedicated to the mystery. By 1972, T-shirts emblazoned with "DB Cooper, Where Are You?" began appearing in novelty shops along the West Coast. The case has since been referenced in various media, including the TV series Twin Peaks and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Max Shaffer, former chief of security for the Federal Aviation Administration in Seattle, speculated in 1972 that Cooper likely perished during his jump. As of July 12, 2016, the FBI officially concluded its investigation, marking it as one of the longest cold cases in its history. In a statement, the agency noted, "The mystery surrounding the hijacking of a Northwest Orient Airlines flight in 1971 by a still-unknown individual resulted in significant international attention and a decades-long manhunt. Evidence obtained during the course of the investigation will now be preserved for historical purposes at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC."

As renewed interest in the case continues to grow with the release of these files, the question remains: Who was DB Cooper, and did he survive his audacious leap into the unknown? The investigation may have officially ended, but the legend of DB Cooper lives on, drawing amateur sleuths and curious minds alike into its enigmatic grasp.