A man using the name Dan Cooper boarded a flight in Portland on 24 November 1971, collected ransom in Seattle, then disappeared from the aircraft before it reached Reno. The airports are known; his identity, landing place and fate remain unresolved.
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24 November 1971
Portland International Airport, Oregon, USA
Cooper bought a one-way ticket for Northwest Orient Flight 305 to Seattle. Once airborne, he told a flight attendant that he had a bomb and demanded money and parachutes. The name on the ticket was Dan Cooper. The initials D.B., which later became famous, came from press confusion.
45.5886°N · 122.5975°W
24 November 1971
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Washington, USA
At Seattle–Tacoma, Cooper received $200,000 and four parachutes. The passengers were released, while crew members remained aboard for another departure. The airport operator’s account describes the subsequent jump into the night over southwest Washington. No precise jump or landing location is established here.
47.4489°N · 122.3094°W
24 November 1971
Reno–Tahoe International Airport, Nevada, USA
The aircraft landed safely in Reno without Cooper. This is the crew’s arrival point, not a confirmed place he visited. The disappearance turned a hijacking into an enduring identification puzzle. In 2016, the FBI redirected its investigative resources; that decision did not solve the case.
39.4992°N · 119.7681°W