D.B. Cooper: The World’s Most Famous Hijacker A Boeing Insider?

In the past, The D.B. Cooper mystery mainly focused on a sketch and a parachute. However, a huge drop of over 600 FBI files and new particle research brought the old hijacking story back into the headlines. Possibly, the new files show that the world most famous hijacker wasn’t after the cash as much as someone, an insider, extracting some sort of revenge. Read on to find out more.

The Hijacking

If you’re new to D.B Cooper, back in 1971, an unknown person climbed aboard Northwest Orient Flight 305 and it became a hijack situation. At the time, he used the name Brad Cooper, but reporters used the D.B and it stuck for 45 years. But that wasn’t the only thing that stuck. The investigation became bogged down.

After takeoff from Portland, Oregon he claimed a case with him contained a bomb. He demanded $200K in cash, a lot of money back then. Plus more than one parachute. Newer files suggest he wanted the extras so he could check to see that authorities hadn’t sabotaged them. It also sent a message that he might take hostages with him.

Anyway, he jumped, disappeared forever, and armchair experts still try and figure out who he was.

A Link To The Aviation Industry?

Recently, Popular Mechanics reported that folks suspected a link to aviation. Their article noted:

Cooper seemed to know more about the plane’s capabilities than some of its own crew. How? Part 71 of the FBI’s D.B. Cooper files notes that in March 1964, Boeing tested the 727 with the air stairs down. The resulting report-D6-7771, Flight Characteristics with Aft Airstair Down – B-outlined procedures that the hijacked 727 followed eight years later, which the hijacker appeared to know well.

A whole lot of other information backed up the suspicion. For example, per National Post in 2017, a small bit of evidence made the theory stronger. It was a black clip-on tie left behind that gave some hope that investigators might link Cooper to aviation industry. Particles on the tie contained “pure titanium.” Apparently, it wasn’t commonly used, but could be found in components for aircraft and helicopters. That made folks suspect he worked for Boeing. Perhaps he had a grudge?

A Strong Suspect

Among the newly declassified suspects is Raymond Sidney Russell. Actually, he seemed like a dead-certain possibility. After all, he worked as a pilot and as an inspector for Boeing. Additionally, he had a mysterious disappearance much like Cooper. However, he ended up eliminated as a suspect.

Why? Well, Fox News noted that the files reveal that “not a single witness on Flight 305 mentioned a scar,” and Russell had a very visible one on his face.

For now, it seems that D.B. Cooper remains an enigma. While the file drop seemed interesting, really, it meant that the FBI really isn’t any closer to identifying him. That’s despite several bloggers claiming the identy of Cooper was solved. By now, perhaps he’d be about 80 years old. One can only wonder if he’s alive, and if, one day a confession of some sort might be unearthed.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and remember to come back here often for all your stories about mysteries and the unexplained.