Bass Strait Triangle: Inside Australia's own Bermuda Triangle of Lost aircraft, missing ships, and maritime myths

Economic Times

07-08-2025

TIL Creatives
Some point to electromagnetic anomalies, while others suggest even more far-fetched causes, such as UFOs or time warps, narratives reminiscent of those surrounding the Bermuda Triangle.
As the search for a missing light aircraft carrying two Tasmanians enters its sixth day over the Bass Strait, renewed attention is being drawn to the region's long-standing reputation as a maritime mystery zone, often dubbed the 'Bass Strait Triangle.'Located between mainland Australia and Tasmania, Bass Strait is a shallow yet notoriously volatile body of water. With an average depth of just 50 metres and a length of over 300 kilometres, it poses significant navigational challenges.
Also Read: Police rule out foul play as search for missing Tasmanian plane enters sixth day over Bass Strait
The area is prone to sudden weather shifts, powerful tidal flows, and wave patterns that can scatter wreckage widely. These conditions have contributed to the region's grim reputation for unexplained disappearances.
Like its Atlantic counterpart, the Bermuda Triangle, the Bass Strait Triangle has become the subject of speculation and mystery over the decades. According to the website everything.explained.today, dozens of aircraft and vessels have vanished or encountered trouble in the area, incidents often later attributed to harsh maritime conditions or mechanical failure, but not without fuelling tales of the unexplained.The comparisons are not new. Local myths and conspiracy theories, often spurred by media and maritime lore, suggest that the Strait harbours unknown forces. Some point to electromagnetic anomalies, while others suggest even more far-fetched causes, such as UFOs or time warps, narratives reminiscent of those surrounding the Bermuda Triangle.The most famous case linked to the Bass Strait Triangle is that of Frederick Valentich, a young pilot who disappeared in 1978 while flying a Cessna 182L from Moorabbin, Victoria, to King Island. Just before losing radio contact, Valentich reported that a strange, metallic object was hovering above him. Neither he nor the aircraft was ever found, adding to the enigma of the region.In 1973, the MV Blythe Star, a coastal freighter, vanished without a trace in the Bass Strait. Though parts of the ship were later found and some crew members survived after a harrowing ordeal, the initial disappearance added to the Strait's mystique.Other than that, an article on everything explained today listed some of the most interesting incidents that happened over this stretch of water.
1. The Disappearance of the Sloop Eliza (1797) After the ship Sydney Cove was wrecked on the Furneaux Group, the sloop Eliza, engaged in salvage operations, vanished on its return to Sydney — the first known disappearance linked to the Bass Strait.
2. A String of Lost Vessels (1838–1840) At least seven vessels travelling to or from the newly established settlement in Melbourne were lost with all hands. Wreckage from only three was ever recovered.
3. The Warship HMS Sappho Vanishes (1858) A British naval warship disappeared with over 100 crew members aboard. No positively identifiable wreckage was ever found.
4. SS Federal Lost With 31 Crew (1901) The SS Federal disappeared while carrying coal from NSW. Its wreck was only discovered in 2019, more than a century later.
5. SS Ferdinand Fischer Disappears (1906) This German cargo ship vanished in the Bass Strait without a trace.
6. The Twin Disappearances of 1920: SS Amelia J and SS Southern Cross
The schooner Amelia J disappeared on 10 September 1920. While searching for her, the barquentine Southern Cross and a military search aircraft, an Airco DH. 9A, also vanished. Only the Southern Cross wreckage was later found on King Island.
7. Miss Hobart Airliner Lost (1934) A De Havilland Express plane went missing soon after entering service. Only minor wreckage was found along the Victorian coast.
8. Loina Plane Crash (1935)
Another Holyman airliner, Loina , crashed near Flinders Island. All five on board died, and no bodies were recovered.
9. WWII RAAF Aircraft Disappearances (1940s) Several RAAF Bristol Beaufort bombers went missing during training exercises over Bass Strait, possibly due to inexperience and dangerous low-altitude manoeuvres.
10. The Vanishing of Brenda Hean & Max Price (1972) Their De Havilland Tiger Moth vanished en route from Tasmania to Canberra during an environmental protest flight. Sabotage was suspected but never confirmed..
12. Yacht Charleston Disappears (1979) On its way to join the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, the yacht vanished without a trace.Despite the myths, experts often point to the natural hazards of the Bass Strait as the real culprits. The shifting wind patterns near Flinders Island and King Island, combined with shallow waters and rapidly changing weather, make flying or sailing across the Strait risky.As of August 7, 2025, Gregory Vaughan, 72, and Kim Worner, 66, remain missing after their light sport aircraft vanished shortly after take-off from George Town, Tasmania. The plane was bound for Hillston in New South Wales but failed to arrive, prompting a large-scale search over Bass Strait.Police have stated there is no evidence to suggest foul play and continue the search with aerial and marine patrols, again battling unpredictable conditions over the notorious waters.