1950-11-05: Martin PBM Mariner (84769) — United States Navy - USN — South China Sea, World

12 fatalitiesSouth China Sea, WorldFlight

A seaplane disappeared over the South China Sea while returning from a patrol mission, resulting in the deaths of all onboard.

What happened

During a return flight to its home base following a maritime patrol mission near the coast of Korea, a seaplane vanished. The aircraft was traversing the South China Sea when it crashed approximately 250 km east of Hong Kong. Following the impact, the aircraft sank into the ocean and has not been recovered.

All 12 crew members on board the aircraft perished in the accident. At this time, the specific circumstances surrounding the descent and subsequent loss of the aircraft remain unidentified.

Findings

There are currently no official findings regarding the crash, as the exact cause of the incident remains unknown.