10 fatalities

Unexplained disappearance of single-engine aircraft over Gulf of Sirte (55-2974)

Benghazi-Benina, LibyaFlight

On January 4, 1960, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration 55-2974) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Benghazi-Benina, Libya in flight. 10 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft and its ten occupants disappeared after crashing into the sea while flying over the Gulf of Sirte.

What happened

During a flight over the Gulf of Sirte, a single-engine aircraft went down in the ocean under undetermined conditions. Following the disappearance, search and rescue teams initiated extensive operations covering a wide area to locate the wreckage and the people on board. Despite these efforts, the aircraft and all 10 occupants remained missing, as no debris or traces of the flight were ever recovered.

Findings

The exact reason for the crash remains unknown due to the lack of physical evidence from the site. The disappearance occurred during the cruise phase of the flight while traversing the waters above the Gulf of Sirte.