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Reading Text 2
De woorden die dikgedrukt zijn kan je onder vinden in de Glossary
The D.B. Cooper Skyjacking
In November 1971, one of the most mysterious crimes in aviation history occurred. A man calling himself “Dan Cooper” boarded a passenger plane flying from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, in the United States. He wore a neat suit and carried a briefcase, acting calmly as if he were a normal passenger. No one suspected what he was planning.
Cooper sat quietly, observing the other passengers and the flight attendants. He appeared polite and unremarkable, blending in with the crowd. He did not drink alcohol or make any sudden moves, which made the crew feel that nothing was unusual at first.
Shortly after takeoff, Cooper handed a note to a flight attendant. He claimed that he had a bomb in his briefcase. The note said he wanted $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and that the plane should fly to Seattle. The flight attendant was nervous but followed his instructions, keeping calm and polite to avoid causing panic among the passengers.
The pilot and crew carefully followed Cooper’s orders. The plane landed in Seattle, where passengers and some crew members were allowed to leave, but Cooper stayed on board. Airport officials prepared the money and parachutes, which Cooper inspected carefully before agreeing to continue the flight.
When the plane took off again, Cooper gave the crew detailed instructions about speed, altitude, and route. The night was dark, and the wind was cold as the plane rose over the mountains of Washington State. Suddenly, Cooper opened the rear exit / emergency door of the plane. In the moonlight, he jumped out with his parachute and the bag of ransom money. No one ever saw him again.
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) immediately started a massive investigation. Agents interviewed hundreds of people, including airport staff, crew members, and potential witnesses. They examined the plane for any clues, but despite many leads, they could not find Cooper or determine whether he had survived the jump. The case remained unsolved.
Over the years, several theories emerged. Some suggested that Cooper was an experienced parachutist who landed safely in the forest and escaped. Others believed he was inexperienced and did not survive the night. Amateur detectives and writers examined maps, rivers, and forests, trying to locate possible landing spots.
In 1980, nine years later, a young boy discovered bundles of cash along the Columbia River. The serial numbers matched Cooper’s ransom money. The discovery gave the FBI some evidence, but the main question remained: did Cooper survive, or did he die during the jump?
The mystery continued to fascinate people around the world. Documentaries, books, and newspaper articles explored every possible detail of the crime. Some even suggested that Cooper had planned the jump for years and carefully studied the plane and the surrounding terrain. Others wondered if he had help on the ground.
The D.B. Cooper case is famous because it is unusual: a skyjacking without violence, a man disappearing with a large sum of ransom money, and a mystery that has never been unsolved. Even decades later, people are fascinated: what really happened to the man who jumped from a passenger plane with a bag of cash?
This case also shows how careful planning, courage, and sometimes luck can make a crime nearly impossible to solve. It remains one of the most intriguing and puzzling stories in American crime history, teaching us about human ingenuity and the limits of law enforcement.