23 fatalities

Humanitarian Flight Disappears Over North Atlantic (CCCP-09303)

Atlantic Ocean, WorldFlight

On July 18, 1970, an Antonov AN-22 (registration CCCP-09303) operated by Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic Ocean, World in flight. 23 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A humanitarian flight from Moscow to Lima lost contact 47 minutes after takeoff from Keflavik Airport and crashed into the North Atlantic. Despite multinational search efforts, no trace of the aircraft or its 23 occupants was found.

Disappearance

On an unspecified date, an aircraft departed from Keflavik Airport, Iceland, during a humanitarian flight from Moscow, Russia, to Lima, Peru. The aircraft carried 15 passengers, a crew of eight, and various goods destined for victims of a recent earthquake. Approximately 47 minutes after departure, radio and radar contact were lost. The aircraft subsequently crashed under unknown circumstances into the North Atlantic Ocean.

Search and Rescue Operations

Search and rescue (SAR) operations were conducted jointly by authorities from Canada, the United States, Iceland, and the Soviet Union. Despite these international efforts, no trace of the aircraft nor any of its 23 occupants was found. All SAR operations were suspended after one month.

Investigation

Due to a lack of evidence, investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Probable cause

Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.