I'm hijacked?
Posted on 08/24/2013 12:58:06 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
Parachute used by mystery hijacker to escape aircraft after stealing $200,000 goes on display for the first time
It's one of America's most enduring crime mysteries, baffling authorities for more than 40 years. In 1971, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper boarded Northwest Orient Flight 305 from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle.
FBI investigators have always argued that Cooper did not survive his risky jump, while at the same time maintaining an active case file. The mysterious hijacking has intrigued everyone from federal agents to amateur sleuths.
After getting on the plane, he ordered a whiskey and lit a cigarette before passing flight attendant Florence Schaffner a note that read: 'I HAVE A BOMB IN MY BRIEFCASE. I WILL USE IT IF NECESSARY. I WANT YOU TO SIT NEXT TO ME. YOU ARE BING (sic) HIJACKED.'
Cooper told the captain that in return for $200,000 and four parachutes, he would allow 36 people to leave the plane when it landed.
The FBI agreed to the swap and the plane took off again under Cooper's orders to fly towards Mexico at an altitude of under 10,000 feet.
Somewhere over the lower Cascade mountains in southwestern Washington, Cooper jumped out of the plane with a parachute strapped to his back.
He has never been found or positively identified. Now, an exhibition at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma examines the 40-year mystery, revealing one of the four parachutes D.B. Cooper demanded for the first time.
The exhibit of America's most notorious 'skyjacker' also includes some of the ransom money, retrieved from the Columbia River in 1980, and photographs of the boy, Brian Ingram, who found it............
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
You can actually plot the occurrence of the event, accuracy within six months, via the amount of money extorted.
BING! Hey maybe it was Sheriff BING BING Ricochet rabbit!
http://goodenoughfarm.blogspot.com/2011/09/ricochet-rabbit.html
That’s “Sheriff BING BING BING Ricochet rabbit”
I'm hijacked?
I was a young Mom returning from work in Seattle on a very rainy nite when this happened...actually think this was the nite I forgot to pick up my son at daycare...his lowlife Dad (my now ex)...who was at home, did go get him. I think I was engrossed in the DB Cooper activities as they were happening nearby.
I know it was only $200,000 but I don’t how much it weighed. If I was going to steal money, even in the 70’s, Id’ve gone for something MUCH more worthwhile. I’ve fallen out of airplanes before (for a lot less, granted) but I would’ve wanted a whole lot more than a house for a suicide mission.
his lowlife Dad (my now ex)...Now, now, now. He was just misunderstood.
weight - depends on the denominations of the bills. if we’re talking 100s, in ten grand bands, thats 20*100 = 2000 bills, is 2000 grams, is about 4.5 pounds. if it’s in twenties it’s about 23 pounds. and five times bulkier.
It was $20 bills.
He got away. They found a parachute but no body. How does that happen. Plus they found some money but not much. Probably left there to throw people off.
From the article:
The FBI is investigating whether the skull being held by Assistant State Medical Examiner Larry Lewman in 1975, found by Forest Service employees in Oregon, is Cooper's.
See article for photo of skull found in 1975.
.
23 lbs. We jumped with 60-65 pounds strapped on. I’d think he could’ve handled that, but ...who knows?
can’t believe anyone would wear a clip-on to a skyjacking...
Has the statute of limitations expired, or is there no expiration on Air Piracy?
No wonder it's in such good shape
the amount was important as had he tried for too much it would have taken time.
D.B. was smart enough to ask for a reasonable amount that could have been gotten rather quickly along with a para chute.
A real kool event in time
Thanks D.B.
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