All nine people on board were killed, including an American and French diplomats
Exact reason for downing remains unclear
Finnish passenger plane downed by Soviet bombers in 1940
Wreckage found off Keri island near Tallinn at a depth of 70 meters
The mystery surrounding the downing of a Finnish passenger plane during World War II appears to have been solved over eight decades later. The plane, operated by Finnish airline Aero (now Finnair), was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers in June 1940 when it was shot down by Soviet bombers just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states. All nine people on board were killed, including an American diplomat named Henry W. Antheil Jr., two French, two Germans, a Swede and a dual Estonian-Finnish national. The exact reason why the Soviet Union decided to down the civilian plane remains unclear in some sources.
The wreckage of the Junkers Ju 52 plane was found off Keri island near Estonia's capital, Tallinn, at a depth of 70 metres (230 feet). The plane was en route from Tallinn to Helsinki when it was shot down. The Soviet Union has not provided clear reasons for why they downed the civilian plane during peacetime.
This discovery sheds light on a significant event during WWII and provides closure for the families of those who perished in the incident. Despite this, there are still unanswered questions regarding the Soviet Union's motives for shooting down the plane.
The plane was operated by Finnish airline Aero (now Finnair).
All nine people on board were killed including an American diplomat named Henry W. Antheil Jr.
The Soviet Union has not provided clear reasons for why they downed the civilian plane during peacetime.
Accuracy
The plane was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers along with a Finnish crew and passengers of various nationalities.
All nine people on board were killed including an American diplomat named Henry W. Antheil Jr., two French, two Germans, a Swede and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.
The exact reason why Soviet Union decided to down the civilian plane remains unclear in this article.
American diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who was on a rushed government mission to evacuate sensitive diplomatic pouches, was among those killed in the incident.
Accuracy
The plane was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers along with two Finnish crew members and three passengers.
All nine people on board were killed including an American diplomat named Henry W. Antheil Jr., two French, two Germans, a Swede and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.
The downing of the civilian plane happened just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states.
A Finnish passenger plane named Kaleva was shot down by Soviet bombers over the Baltic Sea in June 1940.
The plane was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers, two Finnish crew members, and five passengers: an American diplomat, two French, a German, a Swede and a dual Estonian-Finnish national.
The downing of the plane happened just days before Moscow annexed the Baltic states.
The wreckage was found off the tiny island of Keri near Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, at a depth of 70 metres (230 feet).
Kaleva was en route from Tallinn to Helsinki when it was shot down.
