1965-10-18: Boeing 307 Stratoliner (F-BELV) — International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC) — Hanoi, Vietnam

13 fatalitiesHanoi, VietnamLanding (descent or approach)

An aircraft traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi disappeared during its descent, resulting in the loss of all 13 people on board.

What happened

A flight departing from Vientiane-Wattay Airport at 15:05 local time was en route to Hanoi when it vanished. Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, the crew communicated with air traffic control to provide an estimated arrival time of 16:44 local time at Hanoi-Gia Lam Airport.

During the descent toward the destination, the aircraft crashed in a remote, isolated region. Following the disappearance, search and rescue operations were initiated; however, these efforts were later terminated after investigators failed to locate any wreckage or evidence of the flight. The incident resulted in 13 fatalities, including all passengers and crew members on board.

Findings

While the exact nature of the crash remains unconfirmed due to the lack of debris, there is a prevailing theory that the plane may have been targeted by military forces operating within a territory controlled by North Vietnam.

Probable cause

The aircraft disappeared during descent, with speculation suggesting it may have been downed by ground fire in North Vietnamese-controlled territory.