On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in Portland, Oregon. Claiming to have a bomb, he handed a note to a flight attendant, outlining his demand for $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel stop in Seattle for the flight before its final destination. The authorities complied, and Cooper received the ransom and released the 36 passengers in Seattle. After the safe release of the hostages, Cooper instructed the flight crew to continue heading towards Mexico City with only a few crew members on board. The flight took off with its minimal crew, and several minutes into the flight, as the plane flew over the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest, Cooper initiated his escape. He opened the rear stairway door and parachuted into the stormy night, clutching the ransom money. Extensive search efforts and investigations followed, including the F.B.I.'s operation, which remained active for nearly five decades, yet no trace of Cooper was ever found. The case became famous and has remained an enduring mystery in American lore.