It’s hard to explain, but there is something so intriguing about looking at abandoned airplanes, especially planes that were in a wreck. There are many airplanes around the world that were once running perfectly but are now sitting there abandoned waiting for you to go see it. Whether the planes were in accidents because of a technical failure or they got shot down in war, check out some of the world’s most amazing abandoned planes.
Some Of The World’s Coolest Plane Wrecks Can Still Be Visited
Desert Phantom In The Sinai Desert
The Suez Crisis is one of the wars in the Middle East that everyone has forgotten about, but people have not forgotten about this plane. The Egyptians shot down this Israeli military plane during the battle and it has since been left in the Sinai Desert, completely abandoned. It’s a constant reminder of the victories and losses of past years. The conflict which took place in 1956 ended poorly for each country involved except for Egypt. The plane is landed right in the middle of the desert, so you can see nothing except the yellow sand and blue skies against the wreckage of this plane.
Desert Phantom In The Sinai Desert
The Medellín Cartel’s Plane Crash In Norman Cay, Bahamas
The water in Norman Cay is so perfectly ice-blue that it almost looks fake. You get more relaxed just looking at these waters, that is until you notice the giant airplane skeleton beneath the shallow surface of the water. This Curtiss C-46 Commando plane has a dark story to share. If you know the name Pablo Escobar, you’ve likely also heard of the Medellín Cartel. In the 1980s, a strip of this island was being used as a home base for smuggling things into the U.S., and it crashed while doing so.
The Medellín Cartel’s Plane Crash In Norman Cay, Bahamas
Boeing 737 In Bali, Indonesia
Around the Bulkit Peninsula at the southern end of Bali, Indonesia, there is a mysterious site that awaits you. This rusty, worn down Boeing 737 has become its own tourist attraction in the city, but truthfully, people know almost nothing about the plane. No one really knows how or why the plane got there, but perhaps the weirdest thing of all is that there’s a second abandoned plane just a few miles away from this one.
Boeing 737 In Bali, Indonesia
Canadian WWII Bomber In Vancouver Island, British Columbia
In a secluded corner of Vancouver Island, surrounded by swamps and forests, lies this abandoned Canso bomber plane who played a role in World War II. The plane crashed in February 1945 after suffering from an unexpected engine problem. The plane crashed in the forest and never flew again. Despite the fact that the plane had multiple depth charges on board, all 12 crew members survived.
Canadian WWII Bomber In Vancouver Island, British Columbia
American Douglas Super DC-3 In Sólheimasandur, Iceland
In the northern island of Iceland, there are volcanoes, glaciers, natural springs, and an abandoned airplane. The American Douglas Super DC-3 sits on a black sand beach near the town of Sólheimasandur and is its own kind of tourist attraction. This was one of the most well-known airplane crashes in history, and this is what remains of it. This American plane crashed in 1973 and while the entire crew survived, no one ever returned to take the plane back.
American Douglas Super DC-3 In Sólheimasandur, Iceland
The Soviet MiG 29 In Moscow, Russia
This is one of the most famous planes in combat history, and it is now covered with dead leaves and dirt in a small Moscow suburb. Before this plane’s life came to a crashing halt, it was once the strongest sign of Soviet power. We’d recommend entering this site at your own risk, as it technically is trespassing, but it is sitting in a town about an hour outside of Moscow.
The Soviet MiG 29 In Moscow, Russia
This Airplane Graveyard In Papua New Guinea
This notorious rainforest was known for taking lives and making them disappear in the blink of an eye. It’s located in what is now known as Papua New Guinea, which is located just north of Australia. During World War II, the fighting in Papua New Guinea was tough and fierce and claimed the lives of American, Australian, British, Dutch, and Japanese soldiers. Lying throughout various parts of this otherwise beautiful forest are the skeletal remains of multiple airplanes, which killed multiple people when they crashed.
This Airplane Graveyard In Papua New Guinea
The British Avro Shackleton In Stratford-upon-Avon, England
If you’re planning to go visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare, you will have just a short travel time to go see this abandoned British Royal Air Force plane from World War II. At this airfield, there are a few planes, all used by the Royal Air Force during World War II and the Cold War. Guests are always welcome to go see this abandoned airplane.
The British Avro Shackleton In Stratford Upon Avon, England
An American Douglas C-47 Skytrain At The Border Of Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina
During the Cold War Yugoslavia was the owner of one of the most top-secret bases in Europe, Željava Air Base. It was equipped with a small airport, and the Douglas C-47 Skytrain was used to move Yugoslav soldiers. Today, this abandoned plane sits right on the border of Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The base no longer exists, as it was bombed with 56 tons of explosives, and Yugoslavia fell apart in 1990.
An American Douglas C 47 Skytrain At The Border Of Croatia And Bosnia & Herzegovina
The Soviet Ilyushin IL 76 in Umm Al Quwain, UAE
Umm Al Quwain is one of the federations that makes up the United Arab Emirates, but back when this plane was left here, the lone state had no gas or natural resources. Nobody, to this day, is really sure why the plane was abandoned, because it was known for being able to land successfully in even the roughest of terrains, but sometime around 1999, the Soviet Union left the plane here.
The Soviet Ilyushin IL 76 In Umm Al Quwain, UAE
Angel’s Ladies Brothel In Beatty, Nevada
Illegal in most states, the world’s oldest career is actually very much legal in the state of Nevada. Many of the places people used to practice this profession are now abandoned; the abandoned Angel’s Ladies Brothel sits just outside of the desert town Beatty. The plane was originally brought into Beatty as an attraction in the 1970s, but since the business no longer exists, the plane that was crashed by untrained pilots has been left here alone.
Angel’s Ladies Brothel In Beatty, Nevada
The Bangkok Airplane Graveyard In Bangkok, Thailand
Since 2010, this airplane graveyard outside of the city of Bangkok has been filled with various different planes that have been left to take up space. Most of the planes are pretty much empty, as people who came by took anything they thought could be valuable, so the site is just scrap metals from various aircrafts. Interestingly enough, the graveyard is also considered home for many people who want to take the free rent to their advantage.
The Bangkok Airplane Graveyard In Bangkok, Thailand
Cold War Remnants In Grenada in the Caribbean
Of all of the many plane wrecks that are leftover in the Caribbean, this Soviet plane sits on the island of Grenada. This plane was ruined by the U.S. in 1983 when they invaded Granada to end the Communist regime there. The plane stayed in place to remind people of Grenada’s fight for freedom.
Cold War Remnants In Grenada In The Caribbean
The Cessna 414 Crash In The Blue Ridge Mountains, Tennessee
Despite the fact that the Blue Ridge Mountains are famously known and loved for their incredible views and picturesque landscapes, the Woterrock Knob hiking trail leads to a view that most people would not be prepared for without warning. This plane ended up in the mountains in November 1983, when a small passenger plane was flying straight over the forest. Unfortunately, neither people on board survived, but the remains of the airplane stayed put to remind people of what happened.
The Cessna 414 Crash In The Blue Ridge Mountains, Tennessee
The Airplane Boneyard In Gila County, Arizona
This site used to be home to the Gila River Memorial Airport around the time of World War II, but it was left in shambles, and by the time the ownership was given to the local Native Americans, the site was already an airplane boneyard for many years. Some of the planes in the boneyard date back more than 80 years, and what is left of the airport is now just covered in dust and debris.
The Airplane Boneyard In Gila County, Arizona
Iraq War Remains In Al-Qaim, Iraq
Most of the crashes of military planes are from the World War II time, but this one is much more recent, as it is from the Iraq War. It is a plane that was shot down by the American military in Al-Qaim, a city that sits on the border between Iraq and Syria. At the beginning of the Iraq War, this area was home to a lot of fighting, and this plane crashed right in the middle of the Al-Anbar Desert.
Iraq War Remains In Al-Qaim, Iraq
This Abandoned 967 Hawker Siddeley In Belfast, Northern Ireland
This plane is not sitting somewhere rotting away in a forest, but actually, it’s still at the Belfast International Airport not so far away from the planes that are still in use. The plane is completely abandoned and has been left here to deconstruct over time. This former British Airways plane still dons its bright blue paint even though it’s been left untouched for multiple decades, but it’s now covered in a big layer of moss thanks to the frequency of the rain in Northern Ireland.
This Abandoned 967 Hawker Siddeley In Belfast, Northern Ireland
Hotel Costa Verde In Costa Rica
If you are one of those people who wish they could stay on board an airplane forever, then this is the perfect hotel for you to stay at in Quepos, Costa Rica. This isn’t your typical plane crash, but rather, it’s more of a beautiful resting place for a retired Boeing 727. The plane used to fly from Europe to South Africa, and now it has been resurrected from a plane graveyard to sit inside the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Hotel Costa Verde In Costa Rica
This Percival Prince At Long Marston Airfield In England
Sitting front and center in the graveyard of long-forgotten airplanes at the Long Marston Airfield is this Percival Prince. Somehow, this plane looks cooler after it was abandoned than it did while it was still being flown! In its prime, this plane was used to move cargo after World War II. Despite the huge grin painted on the plane that makes it look like a tough fighter jet, that is not what it was used for.
This Percival Prince At Long Marston Airfield In England
Wrecked Vought F4U Corsair In Oahu, Hawaii
While a plane crashing and ending up submerged underwater is never a positive thing, the fact that as it deteriorates it becomes the home for new corals, sponges, and other sea creatures is a huge positive gain for what comes from it. This Vought F4U Corsair crashed in 1948 when it was leaving Pearl Harbor for a mission; unfortunately, it had a fuel error. Luckily, the pilot was able to successfully crash-land and came out of the situation unharmed. If you are someone who enjoys scuba diving and you are in Oahu, you should not miss this advanced scuba opportunity.
Wrecked Vought F4U Corsair In Oahu, Hawaii
This Japanese Aichi E13A-1 Underwater Crash In The Pacific Ocean
World War II was responsible for bringing fights to even the smallest unestablished islands, which is part of the reason plane crashes can be discovered all over the South Pacific Ocean in every direction you look. This diving site in Palau gives scuba divers the opportunity to view a Japanese plane that is surprisingly still intact. It sits about 45 feet deep in the ocean and it’s a scuba diving photographer’s dream come true. Since it’s not super far down, the sun is still able to provide good photographing light.
This Japanese Aichi E13A-1 Underwater Crash In The Pacific Ocean
‘Miss Piggy’ In Manitoba, Canada
On the shores of the Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, you will find a town by the name of Churchill, otherwise known as “The Polar Bear Capital of the World”. Not only will you find plenty of polar bears here, but you’ll also find this Curtiss C-46, which has been sitting in this spot since November 1979. The plane got here because as it was taking off, one of its engines experienced a malfunction which caused the plane to crash. Everyone walked away from the scene, but the plane has stayed put and has been formally named ‘Miss Piggy.’
‘Miss Piggy’ In Manitoba, Canada
This Soviet Antonov An-2 In West Cork, Ireland
Though this plane has always had green paint on it, it’s also accumulated some thick layers of dark green moss over the decades of it sitting in West Cork in southern Ireland. This plane has an interesting story to tell, as it has had many lives. The plane originated in the Soviet Union yet somehow ended up in Ireland. It was stolen from its owners and was shown off in a few festivals across Ireland, but eventually, it ended up in Courtmacsherry where it sits now.
This Soviet Antonov An-2 In West Cork, Ireland
Crashed Dornier 328 In Southern New Jersey
Next time you’re walking around the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey, keep your eyes peeled for this Dornier 328, which used to be a passenger airplane that flew all around Europe, which you can see from the German flag that is painted on its sides. There are many Dornier crashes around Europe, but it’s a big mystery how this one ended up in New Jersey. Some people think it was brought here on purpose to be used for paintball.
Crashed Dornier 328 In Southern New Jersey
U.S. McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 In The Philippines
In June 1991, the Philippines experienced the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 2oth century on Mount Pinatubo. The United States Air Force and Filipino disaster relief came together to help families in the evacuation, but this plane was unable to escape in time. It’s currently sitting at Cubi Point where the United States Naval Air Station used to be. The base closed the next year because even though the United States Navy cleaned up the mess, there was too much damage to keep the base open.
U.S. McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 In The Philippines
This Beriev VVA-14 In Monino, Russia
This turtle-lookalike is currently placed at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino, Russia, but it was not always just sitting in a museum. These planes were created in the 1970s during the Cold War with the intention of destroying U.S. Naval submarines. These planes could be in or out of the water and could travel for extremely long distances. This is the only surviving model of the plane, as only a handful were ever made.
This Beriev VVA-14 In Monino, Russia
The Trident Sun Jet In The Nicosia Airport, Cyprus
In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and took over nearly 33 percent of the island, which is an issue that is still going on today, but Cyprus’ capital of Nicosia is right in the middle of this conflict. Nowadays all flights to the Greek part of Cyprus land in Paphos or Larnaca, but before Turkey took over, Nicosia was the main airport on the island. Since Turkey came in, this airport has been completely abandoned other than housing the UN peacekeepers headquarters. Since the airport was left to dust, so was this Cyprus Airways jet.
The Trident Sun Jet In The Nicosia Airport, Cyprus
This Sukhoi Su-7 In Shindand, Afghanistan
You’re very unlikely to be traveling to Shindand, Afghanistan anytime in the near future, but if you are, know that this site has plenty of plane crash sites to take a look at. The planes used to belong to the Afghan Air Force, but now they’re just a reminder of the past and its turbulent present. These particular jets were used by the Afghan military while fighting off the Soviet forces in the 1980s, but now they just sit in the Shindad Airfield, which is currently being used by both the Afghan Army and the United States Special Forces.
This Sukhoi Su-7 In Shindand, Afghanistan
Tempelhof Airport In Berlin, Germany
The Tempelhof Airport used to be the most beautiful airport before World War II, and it is now Berlin’s largest park. It was completely out of use officially in 2008, and since then all air traffic in and out of Berlin goes through the other two airports near the city. Tempelhof Airport is now a public area. When the Soviet Union attacked Berlin, Tempelhof Airport became the hub for airlift operations set forth to help Berliners. Some of the planes used in these operations are still located near the airport for the public to explore.
Tempelhof Airport In Berlin, Germany
The B-24D Liberator In Atka Island, Alaska
These tundras located on Atka Island in Alaska, the United States’ most northern state are home to more than just reindeer. This state, which is located extremely close to Russia, is home to a plane that was used in World War II. During the war, the Japanese military took over some of the Alaskan islands, which meant that many of these islands became air bases. This plane was purposely crashed into the ground in December 1942.
The B-24D Liberator In Atka Island, Alaska