4 fatalities

Aircraft Disappears Over Mediterranean Sea on Flight from Oran to Toulouse (F-BJBY)

Mediterranean Sea, WorldFlight

On April 21, 1981, a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3) (registration F-BJBY) operated by Hemet Exploration was involved in an aviation accident near Mediterranean Sea, World in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 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

An aircraft with four occupants lost radar and radio contact over the Mediterranean Sea during a flight from Oran to Toulouse. Search and rescue operations were abandoned after six days with no trace found.

Disappearance

An aircraft disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea while en route from Oran to Toulouse. Radar and radio contacts were lost during the flight. Search and rescue (SAR) operations were initiated immediately but were abandoned six days later after no trace of the aircraft or its four occupants was found.

Search Efforts

SAR teams conducted extensive searches in the area where contact was lost. Despite their efforts, no debris or evidence was located. The aircraft is believed to have crashed into the sea south of the Balearic Islands, based on its last known position.

Investigation

The investigation into the incident has been hampered by the lack of physical evidence. Without wreckage or flight recorder data, the cause of the accident could not be determined. The official finding states that due to lack of evidence, the cause remains unknown.

Probable cause

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.