April 11

On April 11, 1952, Pan American Flight 526A, a Martin 4-0-4 aircraft, lost power in one of its engines while approaching Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The captain attempted an emergency water landing in rough seas, causing the plane to break apart on impact. A total of 52 passengers and crew perished, while 17 survivors clung to floating debris. Local fishermen and rescue crews arrived quickly but faced challenges due to treacherous conditions and lack of modern distress signals. The Civil Aeronautics Board's investigation pointed to mechanical failure and recommended improvements in overwater flight safety and pilot training. The tragedy prompted airlines to reevaluate their ditching protocols and emergency equipment, leading to better survival outcomes in future incidents.

In the early hours of April 11, 1965, severe weather spawned 55 tornadoes across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. Many of the storms struck at night, catching residents unprepared and complicating warning efforts. The most powerful twisters carved narrow, deadly tracks through rural towns and farmland, destroying homes, schools, and businesses. Emergency crews and volunteers launched large-scale rescue operations amid challenging conditions. The outbreak led to advances in tornado forecasting and public alert systems, including the expansion of tornado sirens and improved weather radar. Communities later erected memorials to honor the victims and underscore the need for storm shelter safety. The Palm Sunday disaster remains one of the deadliest tornado events in U.S. history.

The flight, carrying humanitarian cargo from Khartoum, diverted to Chişinău after encountering mechanical issues. During the emergency landing attempt, the aircraft lost control and crashed on the runway, erupting into flames. All eight crew members on board perished in the accident. Moldovan authorities launched an inquiry into the plane’s maintenance history and emergency procedures. International aviation experts joined the investigation to assess structural and operational factors. The tragedy prompted calls for stricter oversight of chartered cargo operations in the region. Safety recommendations focused on improved crew training and aircraft inspection regimes.

On the morning of April 11, 2018, an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft operated by the Algerian Air Force took off from Boufarik airbase on a domestic flight. Shortly after departure, the crew reported technical issues before the plane abruptly descended and crashed into a nearby field. The aircraft was carrying over 250 people, including military personnel and their families. Rescue teams discovered the wreckage amid smoldering debris, and tragically, there were no survivors among the 257 souls on board. The disaster prompted an urgent investigation into the causes and led to a comprehensive review of safety procedures for military transport in Algeria. It remains the deadliest aviation accident in the nation’s modern history.