Newly declassified FBI documents have shed fresh light on the infamous 1971 DB Cooper hijacking, unveiling details that highlight the breadth—and dead ends—of the investigation. Among nearly 400 pages reviewed, the agency documented interviews with hundreds of individuals, rigorously testing leads that ranged from military veterans to skydivers, and even a man in a wheelchair.
One striking revelation: investigators thoroughly vetted a wheelchair-bound suspect before determining he had no connection to the high-altitude leap. While the files chronicle meticulous efforts—including composite sketch comparisons and alibi verification—they ultimately underscore how the FBI never drew close to identifying the real hijacker.
Throughout the search, the bureau pursued dozens of potential suspects, yet none matched key descriptions or had credible timelines aligned with the crime. The discovery site of some ransom money along the Columbia River remains among the few concrete clues.
With the investigation officially closed in 2016, these newly released materials offer rare insight into the exhaustive, decades-long pursuit. Though the case remains unsolved, the documents reveal the FBI’s determination and the complexity that has kept DB Cooper a legend of American crime lore.