# Who was the hijacker? · Hijacking of Northwest 305 (D. B. Cooper) > Four answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Four are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SX9S8617C/who-was-the-hijacker Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:12+00:00 --- **0** # Who was the hijacker? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Four answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Four are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The only unsolved air piracy in United States history has a known method, a known aircraft, a partial DNA profile, fingerprints, and a 66-volume file, and still no name. Every other question is easier once this one is answered, because a named man has a history that can be checked against the flight path, the money and the particles⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D6SWQQ43WDE/d-b-cooper-hijacking)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D6SWTMW0HX5/research-conclusions). ## Answers 4 [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/answers/ANS0D6SXE5W63ZG/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The hijacker is none of the men ever named publicly; he was an otherwise unremarkable person who died in the…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/answers/ANS0D6SXDEE4BEH/the-hijacker-is-none-of-the-men-ever-named-publicly-he-was) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for Still possible [**The hijacker was Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., who repeated the method over Utah in April 1972.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/answers/ANS0D6SXB840DVK/the-hijacker-was-richard-floyd-mccoy-jr-who-repeated-the) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 2 for, 3 against Disputed [**The hijacker was one of the other named suspects (Rackstraw, Christiansen, Peterson, Reca, Weber, L. D.…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/answers/ANS0D6SXCQ06NS8/the-hijacker-was-one-of-the-other-named-suspects-rackstraw) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 2 against Disputed ## History 1. 1991[Calame & Rhodes puts forward: the hijacker was Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., who repeated the method over Utah in April 1972.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D6SWXAT2NBC/d-b-cooper-the-real-mccoy) 1. 2025[Natale: vault releases in 2025 show the FBI eliminated hundreds of named men on description, alibi or appearance; the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D6SWW3R319H/the-fbi-quietly-released-668-pages-of-d-b-cooper-files)Against: The hijacker was one of the other named suspects (Rackstraw, Christiansen, Peterson, Reca, Weber, L. D.… 1. 2026[Kocher: the FBI held the rig, tested it, and returned it in December 2025 saying it could offer no specific…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D6SWTWP2FDY/part-4-who-is-d-b-cooper-fbis-one-in-a-billion-parachute)Against: The hijacker was Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., who repeated the method over Utah in April 1972. 1. 2026[Kocher: a modified military bail-out parachute rig and a skydiving log recording practice jumps before both…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D6SWTWP2FDY/part-4-who-is-d-b-cooper-fbis-one-in-a-billion-parachute)For: The hijacker was Richard Floyd McCoy Jr., who repeated the method over Utah in April 1972. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SX9S8617C/who-was-the-hijacker%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SX9S8617C/who-was-the-hijacker%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SX9S8617C/who-was-the-hijacker%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SX9S8617C/who-was-the-hijacker%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SX9S8617C/who-was-the-hijacker%23add-source) Where it fits Hijacking of Northwest 305 (D. B. Cooper) **Who was the hijacker?** Key question · you're here [Is the parachute found on the McCoy property one of the Flight 305 parachutes?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SXA1268DM/is-the-parachute-found-on-the-mccoy-property-one-of-the)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [What does the tie say about him?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/db-cooper/questions/QST0D6SXB0A6DQK/what-does-the-tie-say-about-him)Most likely · the tie was the hijacker's and its particles record his workplace, a metal fabrication or titanium plant, and… [ Ask a question under this one ]