Cooper was later misidentified in an early news report as DB Cooper, a monicker that has remained in use since.
Before landing, Cooper jumped out of the aircraft after lowering its rear stairs, according to The Associated Press.
But it’s also a reference to a real-life plane hijacker whose identity has remained a mystery for 50 years.
On 24 November 1971, a man identifying himself as Dan Cooper boarded a plane in Portland, Oregon, headed to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington.