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Economic Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Mystery of Bermuda Triangle, where 50 ships or 20 planes have disappeared, solved!
Synopsis While the Bermuda Triangle's mysteries are often attributed to the supernatural, the Bass Strait Triangle presents its own series of unexplained disappearances. From the 18th century to the present day, ships, planes, and people have vanished in this treacherous stretch of water between Australia and Tasmania. Despite theories, experts often cite natural hazards and volatile weather as the primary causes. TIL Creatives AI-generated image for representative purpose For decades, tales of the Bermuda Triangle—a region roughly bounded by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles—have fueled stories of supernatural forces swallowing ships and planes. More than 50 vessels and 20 aircraft have vanished there in the past century, sparking theories about sea monsters, alien abductions, and the lost city of Atlantis. But now an Australian scientist may have solved that puzzle. According to AOL, Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki says the real explanation is far less mysterious: statistics, bad weather, and human error. His theory is backed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Lloyd's of London, and the U.S. Coast Guard. 'There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean,' NOAA stated in 2010. Kruszelnicki has been making the same case since 2017, noting that the sheer volume of traffic—combined with tricky navigation—means incidents happen at a normal rate on a percentage basis. Lloyd's of London has held this view since the 1970s. NOAA adds that environmental factors explain most cases: the Gulf Stream's sudden weather shifts, the maze of Caribbean islands complicating navigation, and rare magnetic anomalies that can confuse compasses. Even high-profile disappearances, like the 1945 loss of Flight 19—five U.S. Navy bombers—can be attributed to poor weather, navigational mistakes, or both. Still, conspiracy theories endure in books, TV shows, and films—because sea monsters and lost civilizations make for better entertainment than math and Bass Strait Triangle, a stretch of treacherous water between mainland Australia and Tasmania, has a long history of strange vanishings. The most famous is the 1978 disappearance of 20-year-old pilot Frederick Valentich. Flying a Cessna 182L from Moorabbin, Victoria, to King Island, Valentich reported a 'strange, metallic object' hovering above him before losing radio contact. Neither he nor his plane was ever years earlier, in 1973, the freighter MV Blythe Star vanished without warning. While some crew survived a harrowing ordeal and fragments of the ship were later found, the mystery surrounding its disappearance only deepened the Strait's eerie notable incidents include:1797 – The Sloop ElizaVanished while salvaging cargo from the wrecked Sydney Cove in the Furneaux Group—the first recorded disappearance in the Strait.1838–1840 – A String of Lost VesselsAt least seven ships bound for Melbourne disappeared with all hands; wreckage from only three was ever found.1858 – HMS SapphoA British warship carrying over 100 crew disappeared without leaving identifiable wreckage.1901 – SS FederalLost while carrying coal; its wreck was only discovered in 2019.1906 – SS Ferdinand FischerA German cargo vessel vanished without trace.1920 – Twin DisappearancesThe schooner Amelia J went missing on 10 September. While searching for her, the barquentine Southern Cross and a military aircraft also disappeared. Only Southern Cross wreckage was recovered.1934 – Miss Hobart AirlinerA De Havilland Express vanished soon after entering service; only small debris washed ashore.1935 – Loina CrashAnother Holyman airliner crashed near Flinders Island. All five aboard were lost, and no bodies recovered.1940s – WWII Aircraft LossesSeveral RAAF Bristol Beaufort bombers disappeared during training, likely due to inexperience and risky low-altitude flying.1972 – Brenda Hean & Max PriceThe pair vanished in a Tiger Moth while on an environmental protest flight from Tasmania to Canberra. Sabotage was suspected but unproven.1979 – Yacht CharlestonDisappeared en route to join the Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race, leaving no the legends, experts often point to natural hazards—swiftly changing wind patterns near Flinders and King Islands, shallow waters, and volatile weather—as the likely causes behind many of these Latest CaseOn August 7, 2025, 72-year-old Gregory Vaughan and 66-year-old Kim Worner vanished after taking off from George Town, Tasmania, in a light sport aircraft bound for Hillston, New South Wales. The plane never arrived. Police have found no evidence of foul play but face the same unpredictable weather that has plagued countless search efforts in the Bass Strait.
Economic Times
07-08-2025
- General
- Economic Times
Bass Strait Triangle: Inside Australia's own Bermuda Triangle of Lost aircraft, missing ships, and maritime myths
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
