DB Cooper (Photo: X / Twitter)

In a twist on one of America’s most enduring mysteries: siblings Chante and Rick McCoy III have made startling claims that their late father, Richard McCoy Jr. was the infamous plane hijacker DB Cooper. The revelation has renewed interest in the case and even prompted the FBI to take notice, even though the investigation was declared closed back in 2016.
DB Cooper’s daring heist in 1971 has fascinated the world for decades. The Secret began when a man using the alias “Dan Cooper” boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971. Armed with a bomb threat, he demanded $200,000 in cash (equivalent to about $1.54 million today) and four parachutes.
After releasing 36 passengers in exchange for the ransom upon landing in Seattle, Cooper instructed the crew to take off again and make their way to Mexico City. Somewhere between Seattle and Reno, Nevada, he jumped out of the plane with the money. Despite an extensive search, he was never seen again and his true identity remained unknown.
Fast forward to 2023, when Chanté and Rick claimed their father was the elusive kidnapper. They waited until her mother’s death in 2020 to tell her story, citing fears that she might be implicated based on evidence allegedly linking her to the crime.
Among the items they revealed was a parachute that Rick claimed was “one in a billion” and matched the setup of skydiving expert Earl Cossey, who had modified the parachutes for Cooper. The parachute was reportedly found in her mother’s camp outside the family home.
Aviation YouTuber Dan Gryder, who examined the evidence, supported the siblings’ claims, noting a striking similarity between Richard McCoy Jr. and DB Cooper’s FBI sketches. The FBI reportedly contacted the McCoys in 2023, collected evidence, searched their mother’s home, and obtained a DNA sample from Rick.
According to Rick, FBI agents mentioned that exhuming his father’s body could be the next step. However, the agency has not confirmed any plans to do so, claiming that the case was officially closed in 2016 due to a lack of solid evidence.
The McCoys’ claims have sparked renewed interest in the mystery, with skeptics and enthusiasts alike debating whether DB Cooper’s true identity could finally be revealed.

The Story of DB Cooper: America’s Greatest Aviation Secret

The story of DB Cooper is one of the most enduring mysteries in modern American history. The focus is on an unknown man who carried out a daring skyjacking on November 24, 1971, which continues to baffle investigators and fascinate the public more than 50 years later.

The raid

The day before Thanksgiving, a man identifying himself as “Dan Cooper” purchased a one-way ticket for $20 at Portland International Airport on Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 to Seattle, Washington. He was described as calm and well-dressed, wearing a dark suit, tie and sunglasses.
Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a flight attendant a note that was initially ignored as an attempt at flirtation. When she finally read it, she was shocked to see a message saying that Cooper had a bomb in his briefcase. To prove his claim, he opened the suitcase and revealed wires, batteries and sticks of dynamite. Then he calmly stated his demands: $200,000 in cash (equivalent to about $1.54 million in today’s money), four parachutes, and a fuel truck waiting in Seattle to refuel the plane.
The airline gradually complied and after landing in Seattle the passengers were released in exchange for money and parachutes. Cooper kept several crew members on board and ordered the pilot to take off again and fly toward Mexico City at low altitude and slow speed to accommodate his next move.

The escape

Somewhere over the harsh wilderness between Seattle and Reno, Nevada, Cooper opened the plane’s rear stairs, parachuted into the night and disappeared with the ransom money. The FBI was alerted immediately after the plane landed safely in Reno and began an extensive search. They scoured the vast forests of the Pacific Northwest, but no trace of Cooper, his parachutes or the money was found. However, the search area was vast and difficult to navigate, leading many to speculate whether he had survived the jump.

The investigation

The FBI codenamed the case “NORJAK” (Northwest Hijacking) and spent decades following leads. Their main suspects included professional parachutists, military personnel and people with aviation knowledge. Over the years, they investigated numerous suspects, but none had a clear connection to the crime.
A significant breakthrough came in 1980 when a young boy found $5,800 worth of damaged $20 bills buried along the Columbia River in Washington. The serial numbers matched the ransom, but no other physical evidence was found.