D.B. Cooper Day

D.B. Cooper Day is observed in the United States on November 24 each year to commemorate one of the country’s most famous unsolved hijacking cases. It is an opportunity to learn more about the mysterious man who parachuted from an aircraft with $200,000 and was never conclusively identified.

History of D.B. Cooper Day

On November 24, 1971, a man using the name Dan Cooper bought a one-way ticket from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. After Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 took off, he handed a flight attendant a note stating that he had a bomb. He demanded $200,000 in $20 bills, four parachutes, and a fuel truck waiting in Seattle.

The authorities met his demands, and the passengers were released after the aircraft landed in Seattle. Cooper remained aboard with several crew members and ordered the plane to fly toward Mexico City. Shortly after 8:00 p.m., somewhere between Seattle and Reno, he lowered the rear stairs of the Boeing 727 and parachuted into the night with the ransom money. His identity and fate remain unknown.

In 1980, an 8-year-old boy found $5,800 in deteriorating $20 bills along the Columbia River. Their serial numbers matched the ransom money given to Cooper. No other confirmed portion of the money has been recovered.

Interesting Facts About D.B. Cooper Day

• Cooper requested four parachutes, possibly to make authorities believe that he intended to take hostages with him.
• He jumped with two parachutes, including a reserve parachute that had been sewn shut for training purposes.
• The hijacker called himself Dan Cooper, but a reporting error led the media to identify him as D.B. Cooper.
• Investigators considered hundreds of suspects during the decades-long investigation.
• The FBI stopped actively investigating the case in 2016 but said it would review specific physical evidence connected to the parachutes or ransom money.
• The aircraft was a Boeing 727 with rear stairs that could be lowered during flight.

Ways to Observe D.B. Cooper Day

• Read books, watch documentaries, or explore publicly released FBI records about the case.
• Discuss the known evidence and competing theories with friends.
• Learn how the hijacking influenced airport security and aviation procedures.
• Visit Ariel, Washington, where gatherings connected with the case have traditionally been held.
• Share factual information or your own theory using the #DBCooperDay hashtag.

When Is D.B. Cooper Day in 2026?

D.B. Cooper Day is observed on November 24 each year.

Observations