Synopsis
Into the Blast: The True Story of D.B. Cooper, co-authored by private investigator Skipp Porteous and publisher Robert Blevins, is a true-crime investigation into the famous 1971 skyjacking of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. The book presents a focused case identifying the elusive hijacker—known publicly as D.B. Cooper—as Kenneth Peter Christiansen, a former World War II Army paratrooper who later worked as a mechanic and flight purser for Northwest Airlines.
The authors construct their argument around Christiansen's unique background, arguing that his extensive insider knowledge of airline operations and 727 aircraft mechanics allowed him to execute the heist. Porteous and Blevins outline how Christiansen’s military paratrooper training gave him the precise skills required to jump from the aircraft's aft stairs into the freezing night air. The narrative tracks his financial history following the hijacking, highlighting suspicious post-1971 real estate purchases, sudden cash expenditures, and deathbed statements that suggested a secret past.
Through witness interviews, circumstantial evidence, and archival records, Into the Blast details the planning, execution, and aftermath of the heist from the perspective of their prime suspect. The book aims to solve the infamous cold case by offering a comprehensive look at Christiansen's life, motivation, and alleged accomplices.