Garuda Indonesian Airways Flight 542
1961 aviation accident
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Garuda Indonesia Flight 542 was a scheduled passenger flight on 3 February 1961, which was reported missing en route from Surabaya to Balikpapan. All 26 occupants on board were lost in the accident.[1]
- Off Madura Island
 A Garuda Indonesian Airways Douglas DC-3 | |
| Disappearance | |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 February 1961 |
| Summary | Missing, presumed crashed into the sea |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Douglas DC-3 |
| Operator | Garuda Indonesian Airways |
| Registration | PK-GDY |
| Flight origin | Juanda Airport, Surabaya, Indonesia |
| Destination | Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan, Indonesia |
| Occupants | 26 |
| Passengers | 21 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 26 (presumed) |
| Missing | 26 |
| Survivors | 0 (presumed) |
Flight
The aircraft departed Surabaya-Juanda Airport at 11:35 pm inbound for Balikpapan. While in cruising altitude, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and presumably crashed into the Java Sea. Search and rescue operations were conducted but eventually suspended after a few days, as no trace of the aircraft nor the 26 occupants was found. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident. Due to a lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.[citation needed] The wreckage was never found.[2]
Aftermath
The following day, at around noon, the flight was reported as missing. Search and rescue efforts were unsuccessful in trying to locate the wreckage.[3]