Potential Breakthrough in D.B. Cooper Case: Parachute Found
A parachute believed to have been used by the notorious hijacker known as D.B. Cooper has possibly been discovered, reigniting interest in one of the most famous unsolved cases in American aviation history. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the hijacking, which has remained a tantalizing mystery for over five decades.
The Hijacking Incident
On November 24, 1971, a man using the name Dan Cooper (later dubbed D.B. Cooper) boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. Shortly after takeoff, he handed a flight attendant a note indicating he had a bomb. He demonstrated the threat by showing a briefcase filled with wires, demanding $200,000 in cash and four parachutes in exchange for the 36 passengers and crew he had taken hostage.
Once the plane landed in Seattle, his demands were met. The passengers were released, but Cooper demanded that the plane take off again, this time heading toward Mexico City. Just after 8 p.m., Cooper parachuted out of the aircraft with the ransom money, vanishing into the night between Seattle and Reno, Nevada.
Potential Evidence Emerges D.B. Cooper
Years after the FBI closed the case in 2016, new evidence surfaced: a parachute found in an outbuilding on the family property of Richard McCoy II, a suspect in the case. McCoy’s children have long suspected that their father was indeed D.B. Cooper, which has prompted renewed scrutiny into the evidence.
Richard McCoy’s Background D.B. Cooper
Richard McCoy gained notoriety for pulling off a nearly identical hijacking just five months after Cooper’s crime. He was arrested for that heist in Utah, later escaped from jail, and was ultimately killed in a police shootout. His involvement continues to remain a point of interest for investigators and enthusiasts alike.
The Discovery Process
In 2020, after the passing of their mother, McCoy’s children, Chanté and Richard “Rick” McCoy III, reached out to Dan Gryder, a YouTuber and former pilot who has dedicated significant time to investigating the Cooper case. Gryder uncovered the parachute while documenting his search, releasing a two-part series on his YouTube channel entitled “Probable Cause.”
Following the release of Gryder’s videos, FBI agents contacted both Gryder and the McCoy siblings to examine the parachute. This marked the FBI’s first action in the case since its closure, as they continued to investigate any credible new evidence related to Cooper.
Importance of the Parachute
During the hijacking, Cooper demanded four parachutes—two primary and two reserves. This unusual request fueled speculation that he might have wanted to create the illusion that he could take a hostage, ensuring his escape plan remained foolproof.
The Washington State History Museum houses one of the parachutes left behind after the heist, as Cooper used two when he jumped from the plane.
Recent Developments
In September 2023, Gryder and Rick McCoy traveled to Richmond, Virginia, for a meeting with FBI agents, who collected the parachute along with other related materials, including a skydiving logbook found by Chanté. The logbook’s details align with the timeline of both Cooper’s and McCoy’s hijackings, further strengthening the investigation.
Gryder recently released a third installment of his YouTube series titled “D.B. Cooper: Deep FBI Update,” detailing the ongoing efforts related to this new evidence.
Conclusion
The new discovery of the parachute linked to the D.B. Cooper case could potentially lead to significant breakthroughs in the investigation. While the FBI has stated it will only revisit the case if definitive physical evidence emerges, the ongoing interest from investigators and amateur sleuths alike ensures that the legacy of D.B. Cooper remains alive. For anyone with information regarding Cooper or related materials, the FBI encourages them to reach out to their local field office.
