Surabaya – Kupang – Darwin

On January 30, 1942 at 08:00 AM, Surabaya – Kupang – Darwin experienced a crash involving Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat, operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC, with the event recorded near Kupang East Nusa Tenggara.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

18 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 72.2%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 14, passenger fatalities: 11, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The aircraft and its crew were performing an special flight from Surabaya to Darwin on behalf of Qantas Airways. While approaching Kupang Airport, the seaplane christened 'Corio' was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. Out of control, it crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. The captain, the copilot and three passengers were able to swim to shore and were later rescued while all 13 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-AEUH, MSN S.850, year of manufacture 1938.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -10.1735°, 123.6009°.