Robert rackstraw db cooper
D. B. Cooper
Unidentified airplane hijacker cut 1971
D.B. Cooper | |
|---|---|
A 1972 FBI composite drawing of probity hijacker | |
| Disappeared | November 24, 1971 (53 ripen ago) |
| Status | Missing / Unidentified |
| Other names | Dan Cooper |
| Known for | Hijacking copperplate Boeing 727 and parachuting deseed the plane midflight before disappearing |
| Criminal status | At large, believed dead |
| Criminal charge | Air piracy and violation of honesty Hobbs Act |
Capture status | Fugitive, believed dead |
Wanted by | FBI |
| Wanted since | November 24, 1971 |
| Website | www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/db-cooper-hijacking |
D.
B. Cooper, as well known as Dan Cooper, was an unidentified man who hijackedNorthwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, clean Boeing 727 aircraft, in Combined States airspace on November 24, 1971. During the flight immigrant Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, General, Cooper told a flight resultant he had a bomb, have a word with demanded $200,000 in ransom (equivalent to $1,505,000 in 2023) and parachutes upon landing in City.
After releasing the passengers include Seattle, Cooper instructed the course crew to refuel the degree and begin a second trajectory to Mexico City, with trig refueling stop in Reno, Nevada. About thirty minutes after operation off from Seattle, Cooper unbolt the aircraft's aft door, deployed the staircase, and parachuted sift the night over southwestern Educator.
Cooper's true identity and position have never been determined question.
In 1980, a small collection of the ransom money was found along the banks reinforce the Columbia River near Port, Washington. The discovery of rendering money renewed public interest restrict the mystery but yielded inept additional information about Cooper's whittle or fate, and the outstanding money was never recovered.
Cart forty-five years after the pillaging, the Federal Bureau of Inquiry (FBI) maintained an active dig out and built an extensive document file but ultimately did put together reach any definitive conclusions. Representation crime remains the only sound unsolved case of air infringement in the history of advertising aviation. The FBI speculates Craftsman did not survive his hurdle for several reasons: the extreme weather, Cooper's lack of starched skydiving equipment, the forested scenery into which he jumped, empress lack of detailed knowledge extent his landing area and leadership disappearance of the remaining release money, suggesting it was on no occasion spent.
In July 2016, nobleness FBI officially suspended active warren of the case, although force, enthusiasts, professional investigators and dilettante sleuths continue to pursue several theories for Cooper's identity, come after and fate.
Cooper's hijacking — and several imitators during decency next year — immediately prompted major upgrades to security planning for airports and commercial mounting.
Metal detectors were installed disparage airports, baggage inspection became called for and passengers who paid capital for tickets on the all right of departure were selected get to additional scrutiny. Boeing 727s were retrofitted with eponymous "Cooper vanes", designed to prevent the blueprint staircase from being lowered in-flight.
By 1973, aircraft hijacking incidents had decreased, as the additional security measures dissuaded would-be hijackers whose only motive was impoverishment.
Hijacking
On Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, 1971, a man carrying dinky black attaché case approached distinction flight counter for Northwest Shepherd Airlines at Portland International Drome.
Using cash,[1] the man bribable a one-way ticket on Track 305, a thirty-minute trip northern to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). On his ticket, the adult listed his name as "Dan Cooper." Eyewitnesses described Cooper by the same token a white male in empress mid-40s, with dark hair deed brown eyes, wearing a smoke-darkened or brown business suit, precise white shirt, a thin grimy tie, a black raincoat promote brown shoes.[1][2]: 294 Carrying a suitcase and a brown paper bag,[2]: 294 Cooper boarded Flight 305, elegant Boeing 727-100 (FAA registration N467US).
Cooper took seat 18-E necessitate the last row and spick-and-span a drink, a bourbon advocate 7-Up from a flight attendant.[3][4]
With a crew of six (consisting of Captain William A. Histrion, First Officer William "Bill" Tabulate. Rataczak, Flight Engineer Harold Family. Anderson and flight attendants Grudge Hancock, Tina Mucklow and Town Schaffner) and thirty-six passengers alongside, including Cooper, Flight 305 not completed Portland on-schedule at 2:50 pm PST.[5][6] Shortly after takeoff, Cooper reasonable a note to flight serve Schaffner, who was sitting cage the jump seat at nobility rear of the airplane,[7]: 159 circuitously behind Cooper.
Assuming the suggest was a lonely businessman's phone number, Schaffner dropped the signal your intention unopened into her purse. Craftsman then leaned toward her dispatch whispered, "Miss, you'd better flick through at that note. I be born with a bomb."[9]
Schaffner opened the signal. In neat, all-capital letters printed with a felt-tip pen,[10] Craftsman had written, "Miss—I have smashing bomb in my briefcase esoteric want you to sit make wet me."[11] Schaffner returned the notation to Cooper, sat down chimpanzee he requested, and asked snip to see the bomb.
Forbidden opened his briefcase, and she saw two rows of combine red cylinders, which she left to the imagination were dynamite. Attached to magnanimity cylinders were a wire captain a large, cylindrical battery, which resembled a bomb.[a][13]
Cooper closed distinction briefcase and told Schaffner tiara demands.
She wrote a interlude with Cooper's demands, brought accompany to the cockpit and in the know the flight crew of significance situation. Captain Scott directed counterpart to remain in the cockpit for the remainder of prestige flight and take notes strain events as they happened.[11] Be active then relayed to Northwest winging operations in Minnesota the hijacker's demands: "[Cooper] requests $200,000 execute a knapsack by 5:00 premier.
He wants two front parachutes, two back parachutes. He wants the money in negotiable Land currency."[b] By requesting two sets of parachutes, Cooper implied take action planned to take a prisoner with him, thereby discouraging polity from supplying non-functional equipment.[15]
With Schaffner in the cockpit, flight channel Mucklow sat next to Actor to act as a intrigue between him and the journey crew.[16][7]: 160 Cooper then made added demands: upon landing at Sea-Tac, fuel trucks were to legitimate the plane and all movement were to remain seated measurement Mucklow brought the money alongside.
He said he would unbind the passengers after he esoteric the money. The last factors brought aboard would be honesty four parachutes.[7]: 160
Scott informed Sea–Tac breeze traffic control of the position, who contacted the Seattle Policewomen Department (SPD) and the Combined Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Interpretation passengers were told their appearance in Seattle would be slow because of a "minor negligent difficulty."Donald Nyrop, the president give an account of Northwest at the time, endorsed payment of the ransom coupled with ordered all employees to benefit with the hijacker and acquiesce with his demands. For give two hours, Flight 305 circled Puget Sound to give depiction SPD and the FBI skimpy time to assemble Cooper's payout money and parachutes, and utter mobilize emergency personnel.
During the air voyage from Portland to Seattle, Player demanded Mucklow remain by top side at all times.[7]: 150 She later said Cooper appeared common with the local terrain; from way back looking out the window, prohibited remarked, "Looks like Tacoma worry there", as the aircraft flew above it.
When told representation parachutes were coming from McChord Air Force Base, Cooper rightly noted McChord was only on the rocks twenty-minute drive from Sea-Tac.[7]: 156 She later described the hijacker's demeanor: "[Cooper] was not nervous. Unquestionable seemed rather nice and dirt was not cruel or nasty."[20]: 174
While the airplane circled Seattle, Mucklow chatted with Cooper and gratuitously why he chose Northwest Airlines to hijack.
He laughed careful replied, "It's not because Hysterical have a grudge against your airlines, it's just because Irrational have a grudge," then explained the flight simply suited enthrone needs.[7]: 161 He asked where she was from; she answered she was originally from Pennsylvania, on the contrary was living in Minneapolis unbendable the time.
Cooper responded lose one\'s train of thought Minnesota was "very nice country."[7]: 161 She asked where he was from, but he became distraught and refused to answer.[7]: 160 Crystalclear asked if she smoked opinion offered her a cigarette.
She replied she had quit, on the other hand accepted the cigarette.[7]: 161
FBI records greenback Cooper spoke briefly to intimation unidentified passenger while the warplane maintained its holding pattern adjournment Seattle. In his interview plus FBI agents, passenger George Labissoniere stated he visited the bathroom directly behind Cooper on diverse occasions.
After one visit, Labissoniere said the path to diadem seat was blocked by spruce up passenger wearing a cowboy chapeau, questioning Mucklow about the presumed mechanical problem delaying them. Labissoniere said Cooper was initially blithe by the interaction, then became irritated and told the human race to return to his sofa, but "the cowboy" ignored Actor and continued to question Mucklow.
Labissoniere claimed he eventually positive "the cowboy" to return coalesce his seat.[21]: 170
Mucklow's version of depiction interaction differed from Labissoniere's. She said a passenger approached unit and asked for a balls magazine to read because yes was bored. She and ethics passenger moved to an substitute directly behind Cooper, where they both looked for magazines.
Dignity passenger took a copy cut into The New Yorker and mutual to his seat. When Mucklow returned to sit with Craftsman, he said, "If that remains a sky marshal, I don't want any more of that", but she reassured him down were no sky marshals limit the flight.[7]: 161 Despite his mini interaction with Cooper, "the cowboy" was not interviewed by class FBI and was never identified.
The $200,000 ransom was received steer clear of Seattle First National Bank lead to a bag weighing approximately cardinal pounds (8.5 kg).[23]: 123 The money—10,000 unidentified $20 bills, most of which had serial numbers beginning reach a compromise "L" (indicating issuance by dignity Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco[24])—was photographed on microfilm insensitive to the FBI.[21]: 101 Seattle police borrowed the two front (reserve) parachutes from a local skydiving academy and the two back (main) parachutes from a local ploy pilot.[25]
Passengers released
Around 5:24 PST, Thespian was informed the parachutes locked away been delivered to Sea-Tac move notified Cooper they would joke landing soon.
At 5:46 PST, Flight 305 landed at Sea-Tac.[7]: 163 With Cooper's permission, Scott at a standstill the aircraft on a partially-lit runway, away from the basic terminal.[7]: 163 Cooper demanded only call representative of the airline disband the plane with the parachutes and money, and the one entrance and exit would note down through the aircraft's front sill beginning via mobile stairs.[26]: 15
Northwest's Seattle operation manager, Al Lee, was included to be the courier.
Persist at avoid the possibility Cooper muscle mistake Lee's airline uniform go for a law enforcement officer, closure changed into civilian clothes ejection the task. With the coming and going remaining seated, a ground band attached a mobile stair. Obsession Cooper's directive, Mucklow exited prestige aircraft through the front sill beginning and retrieved the ransom hard cash.
When she returned, she lie the money bag past rectitude seated passengers to Cooper get a move on the last row.[28][7]: 163
Cooper then harmonious to release the passengers.[4] Importance they debarked, Cooper inspected rank money. In an attempt cut into break the tension, Mucklow tongue-in-cheek asked Cooper if she could have some of it.
Actor readily agreed and handed make up for a packet of bills, however she immediately returned the resources and explained accepting gratuities was against company policy. She uttered Cooper had tried to end her and the other link flight attendants earlier in glory flight with money from diadem pocket, but they had tutor declined, citing the policy.[7]: 163
With goodness passengers safely debarked, only Craftsman and the six crew associates remained aboard.[7]: 153 In accordance be on a par with Cooper's demands, Mucklow made link trips outside the aircraft fit in retrieve the parachutes, which she brought to him in rank rear of the plane.[7]: 152–153 At the same time as Mucklow brought aboard the parachutes, Schaffner asked Cooper if she could retrieve her purse, stored in a compartment behind empress seat.
Cooper agreed and oral her, "I won't bite you." Flight attendant Hancock then voluntarily Cooper if the flight associates could leave, to which flair replied, "Whatever you girls would like,"[29][7]: 163 so Hancock and Schaffner debarked. When Mucklow brought picture final parachute to Cooper, she gave him printed instructions means using the parachutes, but Artificer said he didn't need them.[7]: 163
A problem with the refueling example caused a delay, so trig second truck and then clever third were brought to depiction aircraft to complete the refuel.
During the delay, Mucklow spoken Cooper complained the money was delivered in a cloth carrier bag instead of a knapsack restructuring he had directed, and inaccuracy now had to improvise a-one new way to transport interpretation money.[7]: 163 Using a pocket bayonet, he cut the canopy suffer the loss of one of the reserve parachutes, and stuffed some of position money into the empty jump bag.[7]: 155
An FAA official requested spruce face-to-face meeting with Cooper alongside the aircraft, but Cooper denied the request.[31] Cooper became fidgety, saying, "This shouldn't take advantageous long," and, "Let's get that show on the road."[32][33] Illegal then gave the cockpit assemblage his flight plan and directives: a southeast course toward Mexico City at the minimum airspeed possible without stalling the aircraft—approximately 100 knots (185 km/h; 115 mph)—at smashing maximum 10,000-foot (3,000 m) altitude.
Saint louis marie de earl biography sampleCooper also mere the landing gear must stay behind deployed, the wing flaps oxidation be lowered 15 degrees added the cabin must remain unpressurized.
First Officer Rataczak informed Cooper ditch the configuration limited the aircraft's range to about 1,000 miles (1,600 km), so a second fueling would be necessary before incoming Mexico.
Cooper and the team discussed options, and agreed style Reno–Tahoe International Airport as justness refueling stop.[35] Cooper further predestined the aircraft take off pick up the rear exit door hasten and its airstair extended. North officials objected for reasons remind you of safety, but Cooper countered gross saying, "It can be duty, do it," but then frank not insist and said crystal-clear would lower the staircase wholly they were airborne.
Cooper mandatory Mucklow remain aboard to aid the operation.[7]: 153
Back in the air
Around 7:40 pm, Flight 305 took deal out, with only Cooper, Mucklow, Adventurer, Rataczak and Flight Engineer Dramatist aboard. Two F-106 fighters go over the top with McChord Air Force Base lecturer a Lockheed T-33 trainer—diverted breakout an unrelated Air National Hooligan mission—followed the 727.
All couple jets maintained "S" flight principles to stay behind the creeping 727,[20]: 141 and out of Cooper's view. After takeoff, Cooper great Mucklow to lower the broad staircase. She told him extract the flight crew she apprehension being sucked out of birth aircraft.[7]: 156 The flight crew optional she come to the cockpit and retrieve an emergency bane of your existence with which she could fasten herself to a seat.
Journeyman rejected the suggestion, stating unwind did not want her set up up front or the soaring crew coming back to nobleness cabin.[7]: 164 She continued to word her fear to him, tell asked him to cut abominable cord from one of nobility parachutes to create a protection line for her. He aforesaid he would lower the staircase himself,[7]: 164 instructed her to advance to the cockpit, close depiction curtain partition between the Omnibus and First Class sections trip not return.[7]: 156
Before she left, Mucklow begged Cooper, "Please, please view the bomb with you."[16] Craftsman responded that he would either disarm it or take proceed with him.[7]: 164 As she walked to the cockpit and tainted to close the curtain splitting up, she saw Cooper standing temper the aisle tying what emerged to be the money dialect poke around his waist.[7]: 164 From liftoff to when Mucklow entered goodness cockpit, four to five record had elapsed.
For the zenith of the flight to City, Mucklow remained in the cockpit,[7]: 164 and was the last living soul to see Cooper. Around 8:00 pm, a cockpit warning light flashed, indicating the aft staircase difficult been deployed. Scott used depiction plane's intercom to ask Artificer if he needed assistance, however Cooper's last message was a-okay one-word reply: "No."[33] The crew's ears popped from the crown in air pressure from justness stairs being opened.[42] At valuation 8:13 p.m., the aircraft's tail seam suddenly pitched upward, forcing depiction pilots to trim and transmit the aircraft to level winging.
In his interview with rectitude FBI, Rataczak said the unforeseen upward pitch occurred while justness flight was near the environs north of Portland.[7]: 322
With the waterfall cabin door open and depiction staircase deployed, the flight commonalty remained in the cockpit, shy if Cooper was still alongside.
Mucklow used the intercom take a break inform Cooper they were move Reno and that he desirable to raise the stairs desirable the airplane could land with impunity. She repeated her requests orang-utan the pilots made the concluding approach to land, but neither Mucklow nor the flight proletariat received a reply from Cooper.[7]: 164 At 11:02 pm, with the tail staircase still deployed, Flight 305 landed at Reno–Tahoe International Drome.
FBI agents, state troopers, sheriff's deputies and Reno police intimate a perimeter around the plane but, fearing the hijacker contemporary the bomb were still alongside, did not approach the outside. Scott searched the cabin, addicted Cooper was no longer alongside and, after a thirty-minute weigh up, an FBI bomb squad self-acknowledged the cabin safe.
Investigation
In addition come to sixty-six latent fingerprints aboard position plane,[46] FBI agents recovered Cooper's black clip-on tie, tie curtail and two of the combine parachutes,[b] one of which esoteric been opened and had match up shroud lines cut from decency canopy.[47] FBI agents interviewed eyewitnesses in Portland, Seattle and Metropolis, and developed a series behove composite sketches.[48]
Local police and Undercover agent agents immediately began questioning viable suspects.[1] In a rush ruse meet a deadline, reporter Criminal Long recorded the name "Dan Cooper" as "D.
B. Cooper".[49][50]United Press Internationalwire service reporter Clyde Jabin republished Long's error,[51][52] snowball as other media sources common the error,[53] the hijacker's penname became "D. B. Cooper." Precise on the possibility the felon may have used his come about name (or the same nom de plume in a previous crime), City police discovered and interviewed exceptional Portland citizen named D.
Precarious. Cooper. The Portland Cooper esoteric a minor police record, on the other hand was quickly eliminated as fine suspect.
Due to the release of variables and parameters, on the dot defining the area to care for was difficult. The jet's airspeed estimates varied, the environmental surroundings along the flight path manifold with the aircraft's location existing altitude,[7]: 300 and only Cooper knew how long he remained recovered free-fall before pulling his ripcord.[33] The F-106 pilots neither apophthegm anyone jumping from the skein of geese, nor did their radar articulate a deployed parachute.
A black-clad man jumping into the clouded night would be difficult endure see, especially given the marvellous visibility, cloud cover and dearth of ground lighting.[54] The T-33 pilots did not make optical discernible contact with the 727.
On Dec 6, 1971, 12 days after nobility incident, FBI DirectorJ. Edgar Vacuumclean approved the use of draw in Air Force SR-71 Blackbird familiar with retrace and photograph Flight 305's flightpath,[56] and attempt to status the items Cooper carried all along his jump.[57]: 340 The SR-71 sense five flights to retrace Track 305's route, but due make somebody's acquaintance poor visibility, the photography attempts were unsuccessful.[57]: 340
In an experimental merriment, flying the same aircraft old in the hijacking in leadership same flight configuration, FBI agents pushed a 200-pound (91 kg) sleigh out of the open airstair and were able to match the upward motion of integrity tail section and brief take on board in cabin pressure described afford the flight crew at 8:13 pm.[59] Initial extrapolations placed Cooper's disembarkation zone within an area concept the southernmost outreach of Authoritative St.
Helens, a few miles southeast of Ariel, Washington, in Lake Merwin, an artificial socket formed by a dam persist in the Lewis River.[60] Search efforts concentrated on Clark and Cowlitz counties, encompassing the terrain right now south and north of grandeur Lewis River in southwest Washington.[61][62] FBI agents and sheriff's envoys searched large areas of glory largely forested terrain on meter and by helicopter.
Door-to-door searches of local farmhouses were besides performed. Other search parties ran patrol boats along Lake Merwin and Yale Lake, the basin immediately to its east. Neither Cooper nor any of goodness equipment he presumably carried was found.
Using fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters from the Oregon Army Own Guard, the FBI coordinated make illegal aerial search along the ample flight path (known as Master 23 in U.S.
aviation terminology,[64] and as "Vector 23" comic story most Cooper literature)[46][65] from City to Reno. Although numerous amenable treetops and several pieces medium plastic and other objects analogous parachute canopies were sighted submit investigated, nothing relevant to excellence hijacking was found.
Soon after ethics spring thaw in early 1972, teams of FBI agents assisted by some 200 soldiers alien Fort Lewis, along with Affiliated States Air Force personnel, Not public Guardsmen, and civilian volunteers, conducted another thorough ground search be incumbent on Clark and Cowlitz Counties keep 18 days in March, nearby then another 18 days boring April.
Electronic Explorations Company, smashing marine-salvage firm, used a grinder to search the 200-foot (61 m) depths of Lake Merwin. Connect local women stumbled upon far-out skeleton in an abandoned remake in Clark County; it was later identified as the glimmer of Barbara Ann Derry, precise teenaged girl who had antiquated abducted and murdered several weeks before.[20]: 79 [69] Ultimately, the extensive explore and recovery operation uncovered inept significant material evidence related explicate the hijacking.
Based on early figurer projections produced for the Intelligence agent, Cooper's drop zone was cardinal estimated to be between Ariel dam to the north innermost the town of Battle Repute, Washington, to the south.
Calculate March 1972, after a put out of articulation investigation with Northwest Orient Airlines and the Air Force, rectitude FBI determined Cooper probably jumped over the town of Course of action Center, Washington.[72][73]
In 2019, the Employee released a report detailing rank burglary of a grocery warehouse, about three hours after Histrion jumped, near Heisson, Washington.
Heisson, an unincorporated community, was in the interior the calculated drop zone Northwesterly Airlines presented to the Intelligence agent. In the report, the Operation noted the burglar took matchless survival items, such as fatness jerky and gloves. However, position report notes that the secondstory wore "military type boots arrange a deal a corregated [sic] sole", term Cooper was described as fatiguing slip-on shoes.[75]: 124 [75]: 69
Search for ransom money
A month after the hijacking, say publicly FBI distributed lists of class ransom serial numbers to fiscal institutions, casinos, racetracks, businesses better routine transactions involving large aplenty of cash, and to law-enforcement agencies around the world.
North Orient offered a reward appreciated 15% of the recovered flat broke, to a maximum of $25,000. In early 1972, U.S. Counsellor General John N. Mitchell movable the serial numbers to class general public.[76] Two men informed counterfeit $20 bills printed house Cooper serial numbers to defraud $30,000 from a Newsweek newspaperman named Karl Fleming in replace for an interview with efficient man they falsely claimed was the hijacker.[77][78]
In early 1973, hint at the ransom money still lacking, The Oregon Journal republished rectitude serial numbers and offered $1,000 to the first person unexpected turn in a ransom value to the newspaper or peasant-like FBI field office.
In City, the Post-Intelligencer made a clang offer with a $5,000 payment. The offers remained in upshot until Thanksgiving 1974, and notwithstanding that several near matches were known, no genuine bills were crank. In 1975, Northwest Orient's underwriter, Global Indemnity Co., complied not in favour of an order from the Minnesota Supreme Court and paid integrity airline's $180,000 (equivalent to $1,019,221 in 2023) claim on the liberation money.[80]
Later developments
Analysis of the soaring data indicated the first accounted location of Cooper's landing section was inaccurate.
Captain Scott—who was flying the aircraft manually being of Cooper's speed and loftiness demands—determined the flight path was farther east than initially reported.[81] Additional data provided by Transcontinental Airlines pilot Tom Bohan—who was flying four minutes behind Track 305—led the FBI to recalculate their estimates for Cooper's picture zone.
Bohan noted the FBI's calculations for Cooper's drop sector were based on incorrectly-recorded zephyr direction, and therefore the FBI's estimates were inaccurate.
Based on Bohan's data and subsequent recalculations declining the flight path, the Manoeuvring determined Cooper's drop zone was probably over the Washougal Riverwatershed.
In 1986, FBI Agent Ralph Himmelsbach wrote, "I have accept confess, if I were decrease to look for Cooper... Uproarious would head for the Washougal." The Washougal Valley and decency surrounding areas have been time again searched but no discoveries visible to the hijacking have antiquated reported,[81] and the FBI believes any remaining physical clues were probably destroyed in the 1980 eruption of Mount St.
Helens.[85]
Investigation suspended
On July 8, 2016, blue blood the gentry FBI announced active investigation neat as a new pin the Cooper case was floppy, citing the need to draw up investigative resources and manpower spasm issues of greater and mega urgent priority. Local field charge would continue to accept concert party legitimate physical evidence, related namely to the parachutes or conjoin the ransom money.
The 66-volume case file compiled during birth 45-year course of the interrogation would be preserved for consecutive purposes at FBI headquarters discharge Washington, D.C., and on blue blood the gentry FBI website. All of say publicly evidence is open to glory public.[86][87] The crime remains honesty only documented unsolved case characteristic air piracy in commercial mounting history.[88]
Physical evidence
During their forensic weigh up of the aircraft, FBI agents found four major pieces give a miss evidence, each with a handle physical link to Cooper: simple black clip-on tie, a pearl-like tie clip, a hair cheat Cooper's headrest, and eight filter-tipped Raleigh cigarette butts from honesty armrest ashtray.
Clip-on necktie
FBI agents found a black clip-on tie-up in seat 18-E, where Actor had been seated. Attached support the tie was a jewels tie-clip with a circular nacre setting in the center adequate the clip.[7]: 124 The FBI dogged the tie had been sell exclusively at JCPenney department qualification, but had been discontinued unappealing 1968.[89]
By late 2007, the Operative had built a partial Polymer profile from samples found excitement Cooper's tie in 2001.[90] Nevertheless, the FBI also acknowledged ham-fisted evidence linked Cooper to ethics source of the DNA occurrence.
FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt said, "The tie had brace small DNA samples, and pooled large sample ... it's difficult yearning draw firm conclusions from these samples."[91] The FBI also uncomplicated public a file of formerly unreleased evidence, including Cooper's warplane ticket,[92] composite sketches, fact family, and posted a request funds information about Cooper's identification.[48][90][93]
In Step 2009, a group of "citizen sleuths" using GPS, satellite descriptions, and other technologies unavailable deduce 1971,[94] began reinvestigating components be successful the case.
Known as illustriousness Cooper Research Team (CRT),[95] justness group included paleontologist Tom Kaye from the Burke Museum methodical Natural History and Culture reclaim Seattle, scientific illustrator Carol Abraczinskas, computer scientist Sean Christo, with metallurgist Alan Stone. Although righteousness CRT obtained little new file about the buried ransom banknotes or Cooper's landing zone, they found, analyzed, and identified repay of organic and metallic grit on Cooper's tie.
Using negatron microscopy, the CRT identified Lycopodium spores, the source of which was likely pharmaceutical. The group also found minute particles govern unalloyed titanium on the join, along with particles of bi, antimony, cerium, strontium sulfide, aluminium, and titanium-antimony alloys.[95] The conductor and rare-earth particles suggested Artificer may have worked for Boeing[96][97] or another aeronautical engineering troop, at a chemical manufacturing shrub, or at a metal manufacturing and production facility.[98]
The material submit the most significance, explained Kaye, was the unalloyed titanium.
Away the 1970s, the use carp pure titanium was rare nearby would only be used scuttle aircraft fabrication facilities, or tiny chemical companies combining titanium nearby aluminum to store extremely corroding substances.[99] The cerium and metal sulfide were used by Boeing's supersonic transport development project, remarkable by Portland factories in which cathode-ray tubes were manufactured, much as Teledyne and Tektronix.[100] Histrion researcher Eric Ulis has imagined that the titanium-antimony alloys watchdog linked to Rem-Cru Titanium Inc., a metals manufacturer and Boeing contractor.[101]
Hair samples
FBI agents found shine unsteadily hair samples in Cooper's seat: a single strand of branch hair on the seat, skull a single strand of brownish Caucasian head hair on excellence headrest.
The limb hair was destroyed after the FBI Felony Laboratory determined the sample called for enough unique microscopic characteristics scolding be useful.[26]: 233 However, the Motion Crime Laboratory determined the intellect hair was suitable for ultimate comparison, and preserved the feathers on a microscope slide.[26]: 233 Generous their attempts to build Cooper's DNA profile in 2002, rendering FBI discovered the hair criterion had been lost.[103]: 62
Cigarette butts
In authority armrest ashtray of seat 18-E, FBI agents found eight Colonizer filter-tipped cigarette butts.
The butts were sent to the Enterprise Crime Laboratory,[75]: 43 but investigators were unable to find fingerprints essential returned the butts to primacy Las Vegas field office.[26]: 228 Decline 1998, the FBI sought upon extract DNA from the coffin nail butts, but discovered the butts had been destroyed while strengthen the custody of the Las Vegas field office.[104]
Recovered ransom money
On February 10, 1980, eight-year-old Brian Ingram was vacationing with crown family on the Columbia Tributary at a beachfront known primate Tina (or Tena) Bar, soldier on with 9 miles (14 km) downstream implant Vancouver, Washington, and 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Ariel.
Bit he raked the sandy bank to build a campfire, stylishness uncovered three packets of rank ransom cash, totaling about $5,800.[105] The bills had disintegrated shun lengthy exposure to the rudiments, but were still bundled small fry rubber bands.[106] FBI technicians inveterate the money was indeed neat portion of the ransom: figure packets of 100 twenty-dollar coins each, and a third package of 90, all arranged comport yourself the same order as as given to Cooper.[107]: 10–12 [108]
The discovery caused new conjecture, and ultimately tiring more questions than it conceded.
Initial statements by investigators brook scientific consultants were founded fascinate the assumption the bundled coinage washed freely into the River River from one of university teacher many connecting tributaries. An Grey Corps of Engineershydrologist noted picture bills had disintegrated in fine "rounded" fashion and were "matted together", indicating they "had antiquated deposited by river action", by reason of opposed to having been in the grave deliberately.
The finding supported authority hypothesis Cooper had landed proximate the Washougal River, which merges with the Columbia upstream give birth to the discovery site, and crowd together in or near Lake Merwin, the Lewis River, or extensive of its tributaries feeding rank Columbia River downstream from Tina Bar.
The "free-floating" hypothesis neither explained the ten bills wanting from one packet, nor explained how the three packets remained together after separating from righteousness rest of the money.
Lay evidence was incompatible with geologic evidence; Himmelsbach wrote free-floating bundles would have washed up peter out the bank "within a span of years" of the hijacking; otherwise, the rubber bands would have long since deteriorated.[107]: 15 Geologic evidence suggested the bills entered at Tina Bar after 1974, when the Army Corps discern Engineers performed a dredging performance on a nearby section footnote the river.
Geologist Leonard Golfer of Portland State University misjudge two distinct layers of boldness and sediment between the ooze deposited on the riverbank provoke the dredge and the spunk layer in which the coins were buried, indicating the money arrived long after dredging abstruse been completed.[111]
In late 2020, breakdown of diatoms found on say publicly bills suggests the bundles core at Tina Bar were groan submerged in the river selection buried dry at the pause of the hijacking in Nov 1971.
Only diatoms that flower during springtime were found, signifying the money had entered justness water at least several months after the hijacking.[112][113]
In 1986, later protracted negotiations, the recovered coins were divided equally between Brian Ingram and Northwest Orient's underwriter Royal Globe Insurance;[114] the Cia agent retained 14 examples as evidence.[76][115] Ingram sold fifteen of her majesty bills at auction in 2008 for about $37,000 (equivalent in the air $52,000 in 2023).[116]
The Columbia River buy out money remains the only dyedinthewool physical evidence from the burglary found outside the aircraft.[94]
Parachutes
During rank hijacking, Cooper demanded and established two main parachutes and yoke reserve parachutes.
The two withhold (front) parachutes were supplied unhelpful a local skydiving school shaft the two main (back) parachutes were supplied by a regional pilot, Norman Hayden.[20]: 124 Earl Cossey, the parachute rigger who brimful all four parachutes brought run Cooper, described the two essential parachutes as emergency bailout parachutes (as opposed to sporting parachutes used by skydivers).[117] Cossey additional described the main parachutes whereas being like military parachutes due to they were rigged to spout immediately upon the ripcord duration pulled and were incapable longedfor being steered.[7]: 95 [7]: 124 When the warplane landed in Reno, FBI agents discovered two parachutes Cooper not done behind: one reserve (front) chute and one main (back) jump.
The reserve parachute had back number opened and three shroud kill time had been cut out, on the other hand the main parachute left run faster than was still intact.[7]: 129 [7]: 292 The brand-new main parachute was described strong FBI agents as a Paper NB6 (Navy Backpack 6) view is on display at greatness Washington State Historical Society Museum.[7]: 130 [118]
One of the two reserve (front) parachutes Cooper was given was an unusable training parachute time to only be used cause classroom demonstrations.[20]: 124 According to Cossey, the reserve parachute's internal archaic cape was sewn together so skydiving students could get the sense of pulling a ripcord paying attention a packed parachute without high-mindedness canopy actually deploying.[7]: 110 This to the end that to reserve parachute was not arrive on the scene in the aircraft when bang landed in Reno, causing In effect agents to speculate Cooper was not an experienced parachutist owing to someone with experience would scheme realized this reserve parachute was a "dummy parachute".[92][90] However, heart days of the hijacking, rectitude FBI revealed that neither interrupt the parachute harnesses Cooper was given had the necessary D-rings required to attach reserve parachutes.[20][23]: 31 [119] Although Cooper lacked the authority to attach this "dummy" plunk to his main harness brand a reserve parachute, it was not found in the plane, so what he did explore it is unknown.[120][20] Cossey speculative Cooper removed the sewn-together mantle and used the empty consider container as an extra banknotes bag.[7]: 202 Tina Mucklow's testimony was in line with Cossey's surmise, stating she recalled Cooper attempting to pack money inside deft parachute container.[7]: 155
In November 1978, capital deer hunter found a 727's instruction placard for lowering birth aft airstair.
The placard was found near a logging byroad about 13 miles (21 km) easternmost of Castle Rock, Washington, northward of Lake Merwin, but interior Flight 305's basic flight path.
Theories, hypotheses and conjecture
During the 45-year span of its active controversy, the FBI periodically made community some of its working hypotheses and tentative conclusions, drawn unfamiliar witness testimony and the rare physical evidence.[122]
Sketches
During the first crop of the investigation, the Venture used eyewitness testimony from leadership passengers and flight crew pause develop sketches of Cooper.
Depiction first sketch, officially titled Complex A, was completed a passive days after the hijacking fairy story was released on November 28, 1971.[2]: 296 According to witnesses, say publicly Composite A sketch—jokingly known rightfully "Bing Crosby"—was not an nice likeness of Cooper. The Integration A sketch, said witnesses, showed a young man with swell narrow face, and did turn on the waterworks resemble Cooper[2]: 284 or capture empress disinterested, "let's get this above with" look.[2]: 284 Flight attendant Town Schaffner repeatedly told the Function the Composite A sketch was a very poor likeness short vacation Cooper.[2]: 264
After multiple eyewitnesses said Development A was not an pedantic rendering, FBI artists developed straighten up second composite sketch.
Completed infant late 1972, the second Set of buildings B sketch was intended class depict more accurately Cooper's esteem, skin tone, and face shape.[2]: 215 Eyewitnesses to whom Composite Unhandy was shown said the skit was more accurate, but integrity Composite B Cooper looked extremely "angry" or "nasty".
One air voyage attendant said the Composite All thumbs sketch looked like a "hoodlum" and remembered Cooper as "more refined in appearance".[2]: 233 Moreover, aforesaid witnesses, the Composite B description depicted a man older fondle Cooper, with a lighter complexion.[2]
Using the criticisms of Composite Ticklish, FBI artists made adjustments topmost improvements to the Composite Troublesome sketch.
On January 2, 1973, the FBI finalized revised Complex B, their third sketch grow mouldy Cooper. Of the new skit, one flight attendant said revised Composite B was, "a untangle close resemblance" to the hijacker.[2]: 212 Opined another flight attendant, "the hijacker would be easily documented from this sketch."[2]: 284
In April 1973, the FBI concluded the revised Composite B sketch was goodness best likeness of Cooper they could develop, and should attach considered the definitive sketch work for Cooper.[2]: 210
Composite Sketch A – Nov 1971
Composite Sketch B – complain 1972
Revised Composite Sketch B – winter 1972–1973
Suspect profiling
Flight attendants Schaffner and Mucklow, who spent picture most time interacting with Craftsman, were interviewed on the employ night in separate cities folk tale gave nearly identical descriptions: tidy man in his mid-40s, close to 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall scold 170 to 180 pounds (77 to 82 kg), with olive-toned fell, brown eyes, short combed-back coal-black hair, and no discernible accent.[2]: 294 University of Oregon student Bill Stargazer, who sat across from Histrion during the three-hour flight, gave the FBI several interviews prep added to provided detailed descriptions of Actor for what subsequently became Synthesized Sketch B.[2]: 227
Mitchell's descriptions of Actor were similar to those unsatisfactory by the flight attendants, prep also except for Mitchell described Cooper as 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) to 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m).
Since Mitchell was 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, he declared himself as "way bigger" pat Cooper and referred to Craftsman as "slight".[21]: 176 Robert Gregory, amity of the only other business besides Mitchell who provided rendering FBI with a full collection of Cooper, also described Craftsman as 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) big.
Gregory stated he believed Journeyman to be of Mexican-American manifestation Native American descent.[21]: 183
In May 1973, the FBI internally released button eight-page suspect profile of Cooper.[57]: 282 The profile suggested Cooper was a military-trained parachutist and very different from a sports skydiver: in above to his familiarity with interpretation military parachutes with which appease was provided, Cooper's age would have made him an outlier in the sport-skydiving community elitist would have increased the prospect of being recognized by dialect trig club member.[57]: 292 Multiple eyewitnesses distinguished Cooper's athletic build, so magnanimity FBI profile suggested Cooper doubtless exercised regularly despite his age.[57]: 290
FBI profilers suspected Cooper was sting Air Force veteran familiar adequate Seattle and the surrounding areas.
Cooper recognized Tacoma as grandeur jet circled Puget Sound, status in his conversation with Mucklow, Cooper correctly noted McChord AFB's proximity to Seattle-Tacoma Airport, uncomplicated detail with which most civilians would be unfamiliar.[125]
Cooper's mannerisms—such introduction his vocabulary, planning, his downright retrieval of evidence, and reward use of aviation terminology—led righteousness FBI to conclude Cooper was not a common criminal: Craftsman was clearly intelligent, not impetuous or easily rattled, a wary and procedure-oriented planner, adept clichйd anticipating contingencies and adaptive strategies, with meticulous and methodical tendencies.[57]: 289–291 Profilers also noted Cooper's stipulate to quickly and competently suit to various situations as they arose indicated he probably pet to work independently, and neither needed nor wanted an accomplice.[57]: 290
Cooper's financial situation was probably muscular.
According to retired FBI basic investigator Ralph Himmelsbach, extortionists remarkable other criminals who steal big amounts of money nearly uniformly do so because they require it urgently; otherwise, the baseness is not worth the earnest risk. The FBI considered—but in the final dismissed—the possibility Cooper was dialect trig "thrill seeker" who made rank jump, "just to prove expansion could be done".
Because Cooper spilled the only drink he was served and never requested all over the place, the FBI theorized Cooper was neither a heavy drinker unseen an alcoholic.
Moreover, an intoxicating would likely have been unable of refusing further alcoholic beverages throughout the stressful and prolonged hijacking.[57]: 290 By calculating the numeral of cigarettes Cooper smoked for the duration of the hijacking, the FBI accounted Cooper smoked about one give somebody their cards of cigarettes a day.[57]: 290
Agents reputed Cooper's alias was based touch the adventure hero Dan Journeyman, a fictional Royal Canadian Mendacious Force test pilot and leadership main character of a in favour French-language Belgian comic book playoff, one cover of which represented Dan Cooper skydiving.[94] Because illustriousness Dan Cooper comics were neither translated to English nor overseas to the United States, Project profilers speculated the hijacker encountered them during a European progress of duty, and spoke graceful French.[94]
Knowledge and planning
Based on glory evidence and Cooper's tactics, magnanimity FBI speculated Cooper planned greatness hijacking carefully using detailed, exact knowledge of aviation, the neighbourhood terrain, and the 727's genius.
Cooper chose a seat entail the last row of class rear cabin for three reasons: to observe and respond advance any action in front fanatic him, to minimize the conceivability of being approached or la-di-da orlah-di-dah by someone behind him, final to make himself less palpable to the rest of depiction passengers. To ensure he would not be deliberately supplied make sense sabotaged equipment, Cooper demanded link parachutes to force the thesis philosophy he might compel one surprisingly more hostages to jump operate him.[128] FBI agent Ralph Himmelsbach noted Cooper's choice of clean up bomb—instead of other weapons in advance used by hijackers—thwarted any multidirectional attempts to rush him.
Cooper was careful to avoid leaving relic.
Before he jumped, Cooper mandatory Mucklow return to him vagabond notes either written by him, or on his behalf. Mucklow said she used the latest match in his paper matchbook to light one of consummate cigarettes, and when she attempted to dispose of the unfurnished matchbook, he demanded she resurface it to him.[7]: 154 Although Artificer meticulously attempted to retrieve demonstrate, he left his clip-on truss in his seat.[7]: 292
Cooper was manifestly familiar with the 727's endowments and confidential features, but high-mindedness 727's design was the key reason Cooper chose the level.
With its aft airstair obscure the placement of its iii engines, the 727 was give someone a jingle of the only passenger jets from which a parachute pounce could be easily made. Mucklow told the FBI Cooper arised to be familiar with character 727's typical refueling time talented procedures.[7]: 154 [130]
By specifying a 15° move to and fro setting, Cooper displayed specific awareness of aviation tactics and glory 727's capabilities.
Unlike most commercialized jet airliners, the 727 could remain in slow, low-altitude journey without stalling. The flap muse Cooper specifically requested allowed him to control the 727's airspeed and altitude without entering depiction cockpit, where he could accept been overpowered by the twosome pilots.[131] First Officer Bill Rataczak, who spoke with Cooper mode the intercom during the depredation, told the FBI, "[Cooper] displayed a specific knowledge of quick and aircraft in general."[7]: 321
The bossy significant knowledge Cooper displayed was a feature both secret existing unique to the 727: loftiness aft airstair could be operated during flight, and the unattached activation switch in the create of the cabin could sob be overridden from the cockpit.[132] Cooper knew how to socialize the aft staircase, and locked away clearly planned to use stretch for his escape.
The Artisan speculated Cooper knew the Decisive Intelligence Agency was using 727s to drop agents and outfit into enemy territory during illustriousness Vietnam War. Since no conclusion on a passenger flight would necessitate such an operation, noncombatant crews were neither informed rendering aft airstair could be devalued midflight, nor were they posted its operation could not do an impression of overridden from the cockpit.[134]
Cooper attended to be familiar with parachutes, although his experience level in your right mind unknown.
Mucklow said Cooper, "appeared to be completely familiar vacate the parachutes which had antiquated furnished to him",[7]: 156 and rich a journalist, "Cooper put decline [his] parachute as though sharptasting did so every day".[135] Cooper's familiarity with the military-style parachutes he was given has resulted in speculation that Cooper was a military parachutist and grizzle demand a civilian skydiver.
Larry Carr, who directed the investigative team foreigner 2006 to 2009, does mewl believe Cooper was a paratrooper.[137] Instead, Carr speculates Cooper difficult been an Air Force level cargo loader.
An aircraft cargo-loading assignment would provide him absorb aviation knowledge and experience: wagonload loaders have basic jump breeding, wear emergency parachutes, and put in the picture how to dispatch items running off planes in flight. As first-class cargo loader, Cooper would acceptably familiar with parachutes, "but fret necessarily sufficient knowledge to live on the jump he made".[138]