VANCOUVER, Wash. – Legendary airplane hijacker D.B. Cooper disappeared into Pacific Northwest lore after hijacking a Boeing 727, but his story is returning to WSU Vancouver’s Re-Imagined Radio on Nov. 25. Listen to the “The Skyjacker” at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 for free on KXRW (99.9 FM), KXRY (107.1/91.1 FM) or AM 1310.
On Nov. 24, 1971, a middle-aged man known only as “D.B. Cooper” hijacked a Boeing 727 class jet between Portland Ore. and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The mysterious man held hostage the fate of the flight, its 36 passengers and six crew members. He parachuted over Southwest Washington from the rear of the airplane with $200,000 tied to his body. Although a few bundles of eroded 20-dollar bills were found years later, Cooper and the rest of the money never were.
Written by Dan Wyatt Jr., WSU alumnus and owner of Kiggins Theatre, “The Skyjacker” seeks to make sense of the Cooper story. This performance considers Cooper’s exploit with research, creativity and historical imagination.
This performance of “The Skyjacker” will be the first time a performance is offered simultaneously on multiple radio stations. Previously, Re-Imagined Radio offered live re-enactments of classic radio dramas at the Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Wash.
“Many people do not think much of radio these days. We hope to change that thinking. Radio, whether through the atmosphere or internet, is precisely positioned to provide community PIE—participation, interaction and engagement,” said John Barber, Re-Imagined Radio’s leader and WSU Vancouver Creative Media and Digital Culture Program faculty member. “PIE is good in the face of the limitations we all endure because of the pandemic. Stay home, stay safe and listen to Re-Imagined Radio on the radio.”
About WSU Vancouver
As one of six campuses of the WSU system, WSU Vancouver offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. Both in person and online, the university provides affordable, high-quality baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities it serves. As the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington, WSU Vancouver helps drive economic growth through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations.
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