Freshly released FBI documents have reignited interest in the DB Cooper hijacking, a case that has puzzled investigators and the public for over fifty years. On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked a commercial flight, demanded a hefty ransom, and then vanished after parachuting from the plane with the money.
The new files reveal the breadth of the FBI’s investigation, which included chasing down tips about possible suspects. One notable lead involved a man in a wheelchair, but this was quickly ruled out. Other suspects ranged from airline staff to individuals with parachuting experience, but none could be definitively linked to the crime.
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The documents also highlight the case of Donald Sylvester Murphy, who falsely claimed to be Cooper in a failed extortion plot. Murphy’s actions led to his arrest and imprisonment after he tried to use counterfeit bills and disguise himself as the infamous hijacker.
While the files provide a fascinating glimpse into the investigation, they stop short of naming a definitive suspect. The DB Cooper case remains the only unsolved airline hijacking in U.S. history, with the hijacker’s fate and identity still a mystery
