5 fatalities

Cargo aircraft disappearance during China-India flight (41-24648)

Yunnan, ChinaFlight

On October 23, 1943, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-24648) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Yunnan, China in flight. 5 people were killed. 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

A cargo plane vanished while operating between China and India, likely crashing in the mountainous terrain of Yunnan Province without leaving a trace.

What happened

The aircraft was conducting a cargo flight connecting China and India when it disappeared from radar contact. The last known position suggested the plane had entered the rugged terrain of Yunnan Province. Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage, debris, or other physical evidence was ever recovered from the area.

The flight crew consisted of two military officers: a First Lieutenant and a Flight Officer. Both individuals were lost in the incident. The nature of the disappearance indicates that the aircraft likely impacted the steep, inaccessible slopes characteristic of the region, making recovery impossible due to the extreme topography.