Disappearance of aircraft flying from Surabaya to Balikpapan

26 fatalities • Java Sea, Indonesia • Flight

An aircraft traveling from Surabaya-Juanda Airport to Balikpapan disappeared over the Java Sea, resulting in the loss of all 26 people on board.

What happened

During an evening flight originating from Surabaya-Juanda Airport, an aircraft en route to Balikpapan vanished from radar monitoring while maintaining its cruising altitude. The aircraft disappeared over the Java Sea, and no distress signals or emergency communications were received by air traffic controllers prior to the loss of contact.

Following the disappearance, search and rescue operations were launched to locate the wreckage and the passengers. However, after several days of searching, the mission was terminated as no debris or traces of the flight were recovered. The incident resulted in 26 fatalities, with no survivors found.

Findings

Official investigations into the disappearance concluded that a definitive cause could not be established. Because no wreckage or flight recorders were retrieved from the sea, investigators faced a total lack of physical evidence to determine why the aircraft went missing.

Probable cause

The exact cause of the accident remains undetermined due to the absence of wreckage and recoverable data.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1961-02-03 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Java Sea, Indonesia?

An aircraft traveling from Surabaya-Juanda Airport to Balikpapan disappeared over the Java Sea, resulting in the loss of all 26 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 1961-02-03 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 26 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1961-02-03 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration PK-GDY, operated by Garuda Indonesian Airways, at Java Sea, Indonesia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The exact cause of the accident remains undetermined due to the absence of wreckage and recoverable data.

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