1961_Ndola_Transair_Sweden_DC-6_crash | TriviaQuestions.online

⭐ In the context of Dag Hammarskjöld’s role as Secretary-General of the United Nations, the 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash is most directly associated with his efforts regarding…

Hammarskjöld was en route to ceasefire negotiations in the Congo when his plane crashed, directly linking the event to his diplomatic efforts during the Congo Crisis.

⭐ Core Definition: 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash

On 18 September 1961, a DC-6 passenger aircraft of Transair Sweden operating for the United Nations (UN) crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia). The crash resulted in the deaths of all people on board, including Dag Hammarskjöld, the second secretary-general of the United Nations, and 15 others. Hammarskjöld had been en route to ceasefire negotiations with Moïse Tshombe during the Congo Crisis. Three official inquiries failed to conclusively determine the cause. Some historians and military experts like Susan Williams have criticized the official inquiries, pointing to evidence of foul play that had been omitted from the inquiries.

Hammarskjöld's death caused a succession crisis at the UN when the Security Council was tasked with selecting his successor.

↓ Menu

👉 1961 Ndola Transair Sweden DC-6 crash in the context of Dag Hammarskjöld

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (English: /ˈhæmərʃʊld/ HAM-ər-shuuld, Swedish: [ˈdɑːɡ ˈhâmːarˌɧœld] ; 29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second secretary-general of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. As of 2025, he remains the youngest person to have held the post, having been only 47 years old when he was elected. He was a son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917.

Hammarskjöld's tenure was characterized by efforts to strengthen the newly-formed UN both internally and externally. He led initiatives to improve morale and organizational efficiency while seeking to make the UN more responsive to global issues. He presided over the creation of the first UN peacekeeping forces in Egypt (the UNEF) and the Congo (the ONUC) and personally intervened to defuse or resolve diplomatic crises. Hammarskjöld's second term was cut short when he died in a plane crash while en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis.

↓ Explore More Topics