Topic: Marty Andrade

Researcher Marty Andrade argues that DB Cooper likely survived the jump, comparing the conditions to World War II bailouts which had high success rates. Cooper specifically chose a rugged military-style parachute over a more modern steerable civilian model, a move some experts believe was necessary to handle the opening speed of the jet. His ability to correctly don the gear suggested significant prior training to the observing crew.

The FBI officially closed the DB Cooper case in 2016, but continues to release redacted files due to Freedom of Information Act lawsuits by Tom Colbert. Researcher Bruce Smith and others have analyzed these documents to highlight flaws in the original investigation. During the 2000s, FBI agent Larry Carr even engaged with amateur sleuths on skydiving forums to solicit new leads.