No fatalities

Aircraft ditching near Laiya following engine failure (48-0348)

Laiya, PhilippinesFlight

On August 23, 1953, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration 48-0348) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Laiya, Philippines in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power necessitated an emergency water landing. 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

An aircraft was forced to ditch in the sea approximately five kilometers from Laiya after experiencing an engine malfunction.

What happened

During a flight near the coast of Laiya, the crew encountered a critical mechanical issue involving the loss of power from one of the engines. In response to this sudden engine failure, the flight crew executed an emergency ditching procedure in the water. The aircraft came down on the surface of the sea at a distance of roughly five kilometers from the shoreline.

While the landing was successful enough to prevent any loss of life, the impact resulted in the vessel sinking beneath the surface. There were no fatalities or injuries reported among those on board during the incident. However, the aircraft was subsequently lost following its submersion.

Findings

Official investigations into the event concluded that the primary factor leading to the emergency was an engine failure during the flight.

Probable cause

The loss of engine power necessitated an emergency water landing.