Ep 12. The Strange Disappearance of D.B. Cooper

The Strange Disappearance of D.B. Cooper is the twelfth episode of the first season of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime. In this episode, hosts Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej investigate one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history, the hijacking of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 by a man named Dan Cooper, who later became known as D.B. Cooper.

On November 24, 1971, Cooper boarded the flight from Portland to Seattle and quickly passed a note to the flight attendant, claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanding $200,000 in ransom money and four parachutes. After the plane was refueled and the ransom was delivered, Cooper released the passengers and two flight attendants but kept several crew members on board. He then instructed the pilots to fly towards Mexico City but somewhere over the skies of Washington State, he opened the rear airstair and disappeared into the night with a parachute and the ransom money, never to be seen again.

Ryan and Shane begin their investigation by visiting the hijacking site and examining the few pieces of evidence left behind, including Cooper's tie and the clip-on tie he used to fasten the bomb to himself. They also interview eyewitnesses from the plane and the ground, as well as experts in aviation and law enforcement, to try and piece together what happened to D.B. Cooper and how he could have pulled off such a daring heist.

Throughout the episode, Ryan and Shane present various theories about Cooper's identity, motives, and ultimate fate. They consider the possibility that he was a trained military or intelligence operative, a disgruntled employee of Boeing or Northwest Airlines, or simply a thrill-seeking criminal who got lucky. They also explore the many leads and false confessions that have emerged over the years, as well as the intense public fascination with the case that has spawned countless books, articles, and documentaries.

As they delve deeper into the mystery, Ryan and Shane confront the daunting task of trying to solve a case that has stumped the FBI, the media, and amateur sleuths for nearly 50 years. They weigh the merits of different pieces of evidence and witness testimony, while also acknowledging the many factors that could have affected the investigation, such as the weather, the terrain, and the limitations of forensic technology in the 1970s.

Ultimately, the episode leaves viewers with more questions than answers, underscoring the enduring mystique of the D.B. Cooper case and the enigmatic figure at its center. Ryan and Shane conclude that while some leads may be more promising than others, no one can say for certain what happened to D.B. Cooper or who he really was, making it one of the most fascinating and elusive unsolved crimes in history.