6 fatalities

Aircraft crashes into sea during climb in thunderstorm (44-62309)

Aden-Khormaksar, YemenTakeoff (climb)

On July 27, 1948, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-62309) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Aden-Khormaksar, Yemen during takeoff. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control while climbing through thunderstorm activity. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft lost control while climbing through thunderstorm activity shortly after takeoff, resulting in a crash into the sea and the deaths of all six crew members.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following departure. While the aircraft was in the climb phase, it encountered active thunderstorm conditions. During this ascent, the plane went out of control. The loss of control led to a crash into the sea. All six crew members aboard were killed in the accident.

Findings

The source material indicates that the aircraft was operating within thunderstorm activity at the time it lost control. No further specific mechanical or human factors are detailed in the provided text beyond the environmental conditions and the resulting loss of control.

Probable cause

Loss of control while climbing through thunderstorm activity.