Five Mysteries Aircraft Disaperances In the Aviation History
history
"Although air travel remains as the most safest transportation method, throughout the history there were several incidents recorded regarding mysterious disappearance of aircrafts."
Although we boast ourselves declaring that we have managed to increase safety standards, improve communication mechanisms, and the whole world is connected, we still get to hear unfortunate incidents of airplanes loss from radar and going missing.
By the time this article was written latest one happened when an Indonesian aircraft, Sriwijaya Air carrying 62 people disappeared shortly after takeoff. Latest reports indicate it was crashed between the islands of Laki and Lancang.
Throughout history, there were many airplanes went missing without a trace. Here’s a look at the 5 of the most famous missing air crafts incidents.
1. Flight 19 (1945)
Flight 19 fleet - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_19
Flight 19 was a fleet of 5 US Navy bomber aircrafts that went missing over the Bermuda Triangle. This disappearance was one of the major reasons for fuel the myth about the Bermuda Triangle among the public. Several search parties went on to search the area but they couldn’t find any trace of the wreckage or survivors. This incident was recorded with 14 fatalities and after an investigation, the US Navy concluded that due to a navigational error fleet was drew off course into the Atlantic Ocean and ran out of fuel.
2. Amelia Earnhart (1937)
Amelia Earnhart - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart
She is one of the most famous pilots in aviation history as the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a plane (1932). Amelia Earnhart was a symbol of women's empowerment and continued to battle with a male-centered community in the aviation field in order to open up more opportunities for women. In 1937 she was on an around the world flight with Fred Noonan in Lockheed Electra. They disappeared mysteriously over the pacific ocean without a trace and what happened to her and the aircraft is still an unsolved puzzle.
3. Flying Tiger Flight 739 (1962)
Flying Tiger 739
During the early stages of the Vietnam war, US Army planes carrying 96 American soldiers flew from Air Force base in California to Vietnam. After the refueling at Guam flight departed to its next stop Philippines. During that journey, the flight went missing without any trace. The pilot also didn’t radio any distress signal therefore making it harder for the pinpoint exact location of the last known location. After the disappearance of the flight, one of the largest search missions ever to take place was carried out searching more than 200 000 square miles of the pacific ocean by 48 aircrafts, 8 surface vessels, and 1300 people. Despite those attempts, no trace of the airplane was found.
4. Boeing 727-223 Angola Plane (2003)
Boeing 723-223 Angola
If you thought it is impossible to steal a plane from an airport and hide it without getting caught in the 21st century, this incident would change your mind. A decommissioned Boeing aircraft appeared on the runway of Quatro de Fevereiro Airport, Angola and it was able to take off without clearance. Later found out that it was piloted by Ben Charles Padilla, an engineer, and a pilot. To the surprise of many, no one was able to track down that airplane or found Charles again. The motive of this grand theft was still a mystery.
5. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 (2014)
Malaysia Airlines MH370
The most recent mystery in aviation is the disappearance of a Malaysian flight carrying 239 people. Aircraft was en-route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and it was disappeared from the radar without any radio signal. A massive search attempt was conducted with the collaboration of many countries and covering more than 120 000 square kilometers for more than 3 years and they were failed to locate any sign of the airplane.
Contributed by: Gayan Prasad
