In a twist to one of America’s most enduring mysteries, siblings Chanté and Rick McCoy III have come forward with startling claims that their late father, Richard McCoy Jr., was the infamous plane hijacker known as DB Cooper. The revelation has reignited interest in the case, prompting even the FBI to take notice, despite having declared the investigation closed in 2016.
DB Cooper’s daring heist in 1971 has fascinated the world for decades. The mystery 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 upon landing in Seattle in exchange for the ransom, Cooper instructed the crew to take off again, heading toward Mexico City. Somewhere between Seattle and Reno, Nevada, he parachuted out of the aircraft with the money. Despite an exhaustive search, he was never seen again, and his true identity remained unknown.
Fast forward to 2023, when Chanté and Rick claimed that their father was the elusive hijacker. They waited until their mother’s death in 2020 to share their story, citing fears that she could be implicated due to 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 rig prepared by skydiving expert Earl Cossey, who had modified the parachutes for Cooper. The parachute was reportedly found in their mother’s storage outside the family home.
Aviation YouTuber Dan Gryder, who examined the evidence, supported the siblings’ claims, noting a striking resemblance between Richard McCoy Jr. and the FBI’s sketches of DB Cooper. The FBI reportedly reached out to the McCoys in 2023, collecting evidence, searching their mother’s home, and obtaining 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, maintaining that the case was officially closed in 2016 due to a lack of viable leads.
The McCoys’ claims have stirred fresh intrigue in the mystery, with skeptics and enthusiasts alike debating whether DB Cooper’s true identity might finally be uncovered.
The DB Cooper Story: America’s Greatest Aviation Mystery
The tale of DB Cooper is one of the most enduring mysteries in modern American history. It centers on an unidentified man who, on November 24, 1971, pulled off a daring skyjacking that continues to baffle investigators and intrigue the public over 50 years later.
The Heist
On the day before Thanksgiving, a man identifying himself as “Dan Cooper” purchased a one-way ticket for $20 at the Portland International Airport for 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 note to a flight attendant, initially ignored as just a flirtation attempt. When she finally read it, she was shocked to see a message stating that Cooper had a bomb in his briefcase. To prove his claim, he opened the case to reveal wires, batteries, and sticks of dynamite. He then calmly issued his demands: $200,000 in cash (equivalent to around $1.54 million in today’s money), four parachutes, and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the plane.
The airline complied, and after landing in Seattle, the passengers were released in exchange for the money and parachutes. Cooper kept several crew members onboard and ordered the pilot to take off again, heading toward Mexico City at a low altitude and slow speed to accommodate his next move.
The Escape
Somewhere over the rugged wilderness between Seattle and Reno, Nevada, Cooper opened the plane’s rear stairway and parachuted into the night, disappearing with the ransom money. The FBI, alerted immediately after the plane landed safely in Reno, launched an exhaustive search. They combed the vast forests of the Pacific Northwest, but no trace of Cooper, his parachutes, or the money was found. The search area, however, was massive and difficult to navigate, leaving many to speculate whether he survived the jump.
The Investigation
The FBI codenamed the case “NORJAK” (Northwest Hijacking) and spent decades pursuing leads. Their primary suspect pool included professional skydivers, military personnel, and individuals with aviation expertise. Over the years, they investigated numerous suspects, but none were definitively linked to the crime.
A significant break came in 1980 when a young boy found $5,800 in deteriorated $20 bills buried along the Columbia River in Washington. The serial numbers matched the ransom money, but no other physical evidence was discovered.
