4 May 2023

Notorious 'death flight' plane to return to Argentina

From Nine To Noon, 9:33 am on 4 May 2023
File: "Madres de Plaza de Mayo" remain upright on the flooded square in front of the Presidential Palace, claiming for their missing sons and daughters, circa 1982 in Buenos Aires.

File: "Madres de Plaza de Mayo" remain upright on the flooded square in front of the Presidential Palace, claiming for their missing sons and daughters, circa 1982 in Buenos Aires. Photo: DANIEL GARCIA

A grim piece of Argentina's history is set to be returned to the country - a Skyvan plane once used in so-called "death flights" by the military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983.

Victims of the regime were thrown alive from the planes into the Atlantic Ocean.

In 2010 one of the planes - Skyvan PA-51 - was tracked to Fort Lauderdale in the United States, and its logs dated all the way back to the time of the death flights - including one notorious flight in December 1977. 

Joining Kathryn to detail the incredible story behind how the plane was found, and how those flying it were brought to justice is Argentine journalist and author Uki Goñi.

He was working for the Buenos Airies Herald at the time, knew most of those on the plane and narrowly escaped being rounded up with two of the victims.

Uki Goñi

Photo: Leticia Fraguela