3 fatalities

Unexplained disappearance of aircraft over Pyongyang (44-34233)

Pyongyang, North KoreaFlight

On October 3, 1950, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34233) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Pyongyang, North Korea in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft is believed to have been destroyed by hostile fire. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft vanished during a night mission over Pyongyang, leaving no trace of the vessel or its three crew members.

What happened

During a scheduled night operation conducted over the airspace of Pyongyang, an aircraft disappeared without a trace. The final communication received from the flight was recorded at 00:48 local time. Following this loss of contact, extensive searches were unable to locate any wreckage or debris related to the incident.

All three crew members on board are presumed lost, as no survivors or physical evidence of the aircraft's location have been recovered since the disappearance.

Findings

While no official wreckage has been identified, investigators believe that the aircraft was downed by enemy fire during its mission.

Probable cause

The aircraft is believed to have been destroyed by hostile fire.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Oct 1950 Douglas A-26 Invader accident near Pyongyang, North Korea?

An aircraft vanished during a night mission over Pyongyang, leaving no trace of the vessel or its three crew members.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Oct 1950 Douglas A-26 Invader accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Oct 1950 involved a Douglas A-26 Invader, registration 44-34233, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Pyongyang, North Korea.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft is believed to have been destroyed by hostile fire.