Unsolved History Season 3 Episode 6 D.B. Cooper

D.B. Cooper, the mysterious hijacker who vanished without a trace after jumping out of a plane with $200,000 in ransom money, has long been a subject of fascination for true crime enthusiasts. In this episode of Unsolved History, season 3 episode 6, the team examines the case of D.B. Cooper in an attempt to shed light on one of the most enduring unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.

The episode begins with a brief overview of the shocking crime that took place in 1971. A man calling himself Dan Cooper boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines flight from Portland to Seattle, demanding that the airplane be landed and held for ransom. After receiving his demands, Cooper released the passengers and crew and then instructed the pilots to take off and fly to Mexico City. Mid-flight, he jumped out of the airplane with the ransom money and a parachute, never to be seen or heard from again.

The episode then delves into the details of the case, examining the evidence and various theories that have emerged over the years. The team interviews experts and witnesses, including a former flight attendant who was on the airplane that day and who describes the hijacker as "calm and polite." They talk to FBI agents who worked on the case and explore the various clues and leads that were followed up in the investigation.

One of the main theories explored in the episode is that Cooper did not survive the jump. The team examines the conditions of the night in question, including the weather and terrain, and interviews experts in skydiving and parachuting to assess the likelihood of Cooper's survival. They also explore the many possible locations where Cooper's body may have landed, and the challenges of locating any remains nearly 50 years later.

The team also considers the possibility that Cooper was an experienced skydiver or even a former military paratrooper, which may have given him the skills necessary to survive the jump. They explore the theory that Cooper was able to make his way to Canada or elsewhere, using the ransom money to start a new life. Experts in private investigation and fraud are consulted in order to evaluate the plausibility of this hypothesis.

The episode also looks at the various suspects who have been proposed over the years, including a man who was investigated and exonerated by the FBI in 1979. The team evaluates the evidence against these individuals, including physical descriptions and behavior patterns that match those of the hijacker. They also explore the possibility that Cooper was a composite of several individuals, each contributing different elements to the story.

Throughout the episode, the team works to remain neutral and objective, never endorsing any single theory or point of view. They present all the evidence and perspectives they have gathered, leaving it up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions. Ultimately, the case of D.B. Cooper remains unsolved, but this episode of Unsolved History offers a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the many mysteries that continue to surround this infamous crime.