FBI Releases 686 New Pages on D.B. Cooper — Chilling Details, No Answers

On November 24, 1971, a man using the name Dan Cooper (later misreported as "D.B.") boarded Northwest Orient Flight 305 in Portland, Ore., claiming to have a bomb in a briefcase. He demanded $200,000 in negotiable U.S. currency, two front parachutes and two reserve parachutes, and a refueling stop in Seattle. After releasing the passengers, he ordered the plane routed south toward Mexico, then vanished when he parachuted from the rear airstair somewhere over Washington state. No confirmed trace of him or the ransom has been found.

What the New Files Reveal

The FBI has quietly released a newly declassified 686-page dossier on the case, including a 336-page report by Special Agent Charles E. Farrell dated February 16, 1972 (Part 110 of the vault release), plus supplemental materials. The documents add previously unseen witness notes, investigative memoranda and technical reports that underscore how careful, knowledgeable and methodical the hijacker appeared to be — but they do not supply a conclusive identification or explain his fate.

Careful, Precise and Aviation-Savvy

Multiple entries emphasize Cooper’s detailed knowledge of the Boeing 727 and flight procedures. Crew notes in the release describe him challenging crew members about refueling (protesting that only 96% of required fuel had been loaded) and giving precise instructions about route, altitude and the aft airstair. A stewardess wrote his instructions on a pay sheet, which included keeping the aircraft under 10,000 feet, lowering the aft stairs, and routing the flight to Mexico.

“The hijacker displayed an extensive knowledge of the aircraft ... and seemed specifically well informed in refueling procedures,” reads one passage (page 46).

Part 71 of the files references a 1964 Boeing test report (D6-7771, "Flight Characteristics With Aft Airstair Down – B") showing that the 727 could operate with the airstair lowered — a procedure the hijacker appeared to understand. An eyewitness even recalled the hijacker identifying terrain from the air, saying, "We're over Tacoma now," despite no public announcement.

Parachutes, Precautions and Small Details

Cooper demanded two main parachutes and two reserves. Although he jumped alone, investigators long suspected the extra chute request was a ruse to reduce the chance of sabotage. The new files include an entry (page 60) showing the hijacker personally inspected an unpacked chute on board, consistent with a concern that the gear had not been tampered with. He also insisted that any notes he wrote or dictated be returned to him; other physical evidence was minimal — a black clip-on tie and tie tack valued around $1.49.

Massive Manhunt, Innovative Tactics

The FBI canvassed hundreds of leads. By February 4, 1972, roughly 325 suspects had been investigated and about 220 eliminated through photo IDs or alibis, according to Farrell’s report. When traditional searches failed, the Air Force lent the FBI an SR-71 Blackbird for high-altitude reconnaissance; after five overflights, poor visibility prevented useful photography of the suspected drop area.

Suspects and Red Herrings

The files document investigations ranging from trivial tips to serious leads. One memo notes clearing a tipster’s subject "solely on the basis of his unusually large and prominent nose." The dossier also revisits major persons of interest, notably Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., an Army veteran and pilot who committed a near-identical hijacking in April 1972. The FBI even altered a photograph to add sunglasses like those eyewitnesses reported Cooper wearing — a detail that helps explain why McCoy remained under long-term scrutiny.

Conclusion

These newly released pages enrich the public record and confirm long-suspected characteristics of the hijacker: aviation knowledge, methodical planning, and a guarded, meticulous temperament. Yet despite interviews, technical reports and high-tech searches, the central questions remain: Who was D.B. Cooper, and what became of him? The FBI’s files deepen the mystery rather than resolve it.

Sources: Newly declassified FBI files (Part 110), Special Agent Charles E. Farrell report (2/16/72), Boeing technical report D6-7771, and related supplemental materials.