The Astonishing Tale of the Vanishing Hijacker: Unraveling Clues, Seeking Justice, and the $200,000 Mystery

In November 24, 1971, a mysterious individual, later identified as D.B. Cooper, stepped onto a commercial flight in Portland, Oregon. At just 5 years old, Eric Ulis witnessed this man, dressed sharply in a suit and sunglasses, take his seat in 18E. To everyone's shock, he then summoned a flight attendant and passed her a handwritten note, claiming to possess a bomb. This event took place as the flight was en route to Seattle, and Cooper had purchased a one-way ticket.

Cooper opened his carry-on bag, revealing a chaotic assortment of wires and red sticks. He firmly requested four parachutes and $200,000 in cash. Once the aircraft touched down in Seattle, he exchanged three dozen passengers for the desired currency and parachutes. His next command directed the pilot to alter the flight path towards Mexico City.

However, within a short time of departure, Cooper accomplished something truly astonishing. With the cash securely fastened around his waist, he embarked on a daring act – parachuting from the back of the plane into the dark abyss of the Pacific Northwest wilderness, disappearing without a trace.

Cooper's whereabouts have remained unknown since then. His bold act of bravery transformed him into a revered figure among the people, prompting the FBI to launch an extensive investigation. This event also sparked enhanced security measures at airports and served as a muse for numerous books and TV documentaries. Remarkably, it stands as the sole unsolved hijacking in the annals of US aviation history.

An artist's rendering of D.B. Cooper, who hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305 out of Portland, Oregon, and demanded$200,000 in ransom.

CNN

After years without any substantial breakthroughs, the FBI officially terminated the case in 2016. However, Ulis remains relentless in his pursuit of clues. Now in his fifties, he claims to have dedicated endless hours meticulously examining an extensive collection of FBI documents on Cooper, hoping to uncover any overlooked details by federal agents.

Cooper's story resonates with many because it possesses a James Bond-like quality, according to Ulis.

"It's authentic. He actually existed. It's not some mythical Bigfoot tale," he asserts. "No one was physically injured. The crew did experience some tension, but they also acknowledge that he was surprisingly courteous given the circumstances. He demonstrated composure in high-pressure situations."

Ulis, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, always keeps a notebook by his bedside in case he has a new insight about the case during the night. Currently, he is actively following a lead concerning Cooper's abandoned clip-on necktie on the plane. Ulis strongly believes that this lead holds the potential to assist amateur sleuths such as himself in unraveling the mystery surrounding Cooper's identity.

And to gain access to the necktie, hes suing the FBI.

Ulis runs a CooperCon and is leading a search in the woods

For years, both law enforcement and amateur sleuths have been intrigued by the enigmatic hijacker. Was he able to survive the fall? Was his true identity "Dan Cooper" as stated on his boarding pass, or could it have been an alias inspired by a French Canadian comic book hero, as the FBI later theorized?

Adding to the mystery, a journalist at the time accidentally mistyped his name as D.B. instead of Dan, and the moniker stuck.

"D.B. Cooper has been referred to as such for 52 years, as it carries a more daring and formidable persona compared to the name Dan," according to Ulis. "During that time, there was no need to undergo metal detector screenings or identity verification, such as showing a driver's license, when boarding an airplane. It was possible to use a fake name for purchase."

Ulis describes himself as a passionate crime historian and aviation enthusiast. Over the last ten years, he has dedicated a significant portion of his time to unraveling the numerous mysteries surrounding D.B. Cooper.

He participated in a 2022 Netflix series called "D.B. Cooper, Where Are You?" and has also hosted a show on the History Channel, in which he explores evidence surrounding Cooper. Additionally, he has authored an e-book titled "Silver Bullet: The Undoing of D.B. Cooper," marking one of nearly 40 books dedicated to unraveling the mystery of this elusive hijacker.

The hijacker's plane ticket had his name as Dan Cooper, but authorities think that may have been an alias.

FBI

Since 2018, Ulis has also organized an annual event known as CooperCon, where enthusiasts of the hijacker come together to meticulously analyze different aspects of the case. Furthermore, in the upcoming month, he will be guiding a group of volunteer searchers to investigate an area close to Tena Bar. This particular beach located alongside the Columbia River in Washington state is significant as it was the place where $5,800 of Cooper's ransom money was discovered back in 1980.

Ulis has dedicated extensive time to exploring the area, determined to determine the proximity between the ransom money and Cooper's potential landing spot. He extensively reviewed archival news footage, meticulously examined FBI photographs, and acquainted himself with prominent landmarks to effectively direct searchers to specific regions. His ultimate objective is to uncover crucial evidence, notably including the parachute that Cooper utilized on that fateful night.

"I am confident that the parachute belonging to D.B. Cooper is concealed within that vicinity. It is likely hidden beneath a cluster of blackberry bushes or amidst a dense thicket of trees, or possibly something similar," he affirms. "It has remained undisturbed for a span of 52 years."

Hes also focusing on a clip-on tie the hijacker left behind

Prior to becoming a D.B. Cooper specialist, Ulis reveals that he used to work as a professional blackjack player. He believes that his prior experience greatly influences his ability to stay focused on facts and steer clear of indulging in conspiracy theories.

"That was my previous realm. And it significantly shaped my way of thinking," he explains. "In that environment, your sole focus is on numbers and logic. The aim is to minimize emotional influences as much as you can."

According to Ulis, his friends view his fascination as an "unusual hobby," but he avoids overwhelming them with excessive details about the case. Instead, he reserves those discussions for gatherings like CooperCon and other similar events where he can engage with individuals who share his interests.

Ulis claims that Cooper's cigarette butts were initially found and collected, but unfortunately went missing at a later point. He emphasizes that this is a significant loss of evidence, which could have been valuable considering the advancements in DNA technology available today.

But recently, he has focused his attention on another piece of evidence: a clip-on necktie from JCPenney that Cooper left behind before taking the plunge from the aircraft at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet above southern Washington.

The FBI has said it used DNA from items Cooper left behind to see whether it matched DNA from potential suspects.

FBI

The tie and the ransom money that was found are crucial pieces of physical evidence in the case, as stated by Ulis. Although the tie has already been tested by the FBI for DNA, Ulis suspects that the metal spindle of the tie knot might still contain DNA that has not yet been discovered.

Earlier this year, in March, Ulis initiated legal action against the FBI in order to gain access to the tie. According to Ulis, the tie is being stored at the FBI headquarters in Washington, DC. Within his lawsuit, Ulis requests permission for himself and a DNA expert to obtain swab samples from the spindle.

Ulis expresses his intention to input any discovered DNA into genealogy databases in the anticipation of discovering a match that could assist in unraveling Cooper's identity.

"All I aim to achieve is obtaining access to that spindle for analysis. I propose having the DNA expert conduct a swab and determine the results we obtain," he explains.

The FBI has not provided any comments in response to CNN's multiple requests regarding Ulis' request. Larry Carr, a former FBI agent who was involved in the investigation of Cooper's case, informs CNN that he doubts the FBI examined the spindle to extract information. Nevertheless, he mentions that any DNA discovered on the tie could potentially be compromised.

"The tie has never been collected and handled according to today's standards. It was collected and handled based on the standards of 1971. Hence, we are uncertain about whose DNA is actually present on the tie," states Carr, a speaker at this year's CooperCon event in Seattle in November. "This presents yet another challenge for us as we cannot confirm if the DNA actually belongs to Cooper."

However, he further acknowledges, "anything is possible."

Armchair criminologists have speculated about the case for decades

Coopers story has spawned a community of armchair criminologists who have spent five decades trading theories and speculating about his identity.

The FBI's public confusion regarding the enigma has further heightened curiosity. The bureau examined numerous possible culprits. Did Richard McCoy, who hijacked a plane and later parachuted over Provo, Utah, with $500,000 in ransom money a year later, play a role? No, the FBI later discovered that he was at home with his family during Cooper's hijacking. Did Duane Weber, who confessed on his deathbed to be Cooper, prove to be the culprit? Federal authorities eliminated him as a suspect through DNA evidence.

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Looking back at the D.B. Cooper manhunt (2011)

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Former FBI agent Carr provides a variety of reasons for his belief that Cooper did not survive the jump. Cooper lacked the characteristics of an experienced skydiver and displayed a lack of awareness regarding his whereabouts as he neglected to request a location update from the pilots or provide them with a flight path. Moreover, the skydiving conditions were unfavorable due to the darkness, storms, and cold weather.

Carr, reflecting upon his career, asserts that the Cooper case remains one of the most captivating investigations he has been involved in, and it continues to occupy his thoughts to this day.

"It's an amazing story, yet it remains untold, leaving everyone curious about the final chapter," he expresses. "We have all reached the end of the book, only to find it blank. This uncertainty is maddening, fueling my desire, as well as others', to discover what the final chapter holds."

The absence of a conclusion perpetuates Ulis and other amateur investigators' determination. With the closure of the FBI's investigation, its case files have become accessible to the public online. Ulis reveals that he has meticulously examined approximately 35,000 pages of these FBI documents.

He is determined to uncover Cooper's identity in the coming years, firmly believing that he is close to discovering the truth.

"I strive to maintain a factual and straightforward approach," he explains. "I apply Occam's razor to this matter - the simplest explanation is usually the most accurate."