Broken Wings: Abandoned Planes Are Crashing into Nightmares

Fear of airplanes is shared on all scales, even though, according to all statistics, airplanes are considered the safest transportation you can find. The most common form of this fear is a plane crash or other disaster, which can cause unpleasant symptoms and behavioral changes such as avoiding flights. In the following article, we will address another aspect of airplanes. When they are abandoned or left for a long time for some reason, and this can happen almost anywhere in the world, they can be incredibly creepy.

Abandoned airplanes are more than means of transportation that have stopped operating or never started. Behind some of them lie interesting stories, which can be historical, technological, or even human.

In the following review, we will explain what causes abandoned planes, what is so scary about them (hint: it may have a connection to horror movies and TV series), and how to visit these types of airplanes safely.

How Abandoned Planes Are Born?

As with any other review of abandoned places worldwide, the first question is, what are the main reasons planes get abandoned over time? The answer is complex and varies from case to case. The most extreme case is, of course, a plane crash. In such cases, the authorities find only certain remains of the plane; of course, the black box may be the reason for the crash.

There are other cases in which a crash or forced landing ended more optimistically, in terms of physical and mental damage, but still resulted in abandonment. Sometimes, the place where the plane is located is remote or has limited access, so rescuing the plane is not technically possible or at least less worthwhile (yes, including economically).

Speaking of economic reasons, sometimes they explain perfectly why a plane becomes “abandoned.” It may be that, following financial and technological changes, it will be decided that a particular aircraft will cease its operations, with common reasons including:

✈️ Technological obsolescence of the aircraft or model

✈️ Economic crises, even at a global level, with the most evident example being the Covid-19 pandemic

✈️ Maintenance costs are “too” high, certainly against the backdrop of the price increases of recent decades, which do not always coincide with the prices of flights

✈️ Bankruptcy of the airline for internal or broader reasons (again, the Covid-19 crisis)

✈️ Changes in safety and regulatory regulations, which mean that not all aircraft or companies are aligned

There are cases in which the abandonment stems from a historical, even military reason. Consider, for example, the end of wars, when one of its aspects can be the abandonment of air force bases and aircraft. A particular army, another example, can replace its fleet of aircraft. When a particular aircraft has no purpose or use, the road to becoming abandoned becomes very short.

One Plane, Many Fear Factors

A few factors can make ghost planes scary. The first reason could be related to the circumstances of its abandonment. If you visit an aircraft that has been in a crash, accident, or otherwise damaged, you can see the history before your eyes or even imagine what happened – these cases can create anxiety. The discomfort may get bigger considering the contrast created between what aircraft are supposed to represent (for example, advanced technology) and the actual situation with an airplane that shows signs of time and neglect.

The fear of empty planes may connect to many people’s fear of flying. Even if the data shows that plane crashes are infrequent, it is still understandable for those who fear flying at an altitude of several thousand or tens of thousands of meters, where the chances of survival in the event of a catastrophe are present but minimal by any standard.

In many cases, the visual appearance of abandoned planes may look like a horror movie’s setting. You can see disturbing visual elements inside abandoned planes or around them, such as:

✈️ Rust

✈️ Decay

✈️ Broken windows

✈️ Torn and worn seats

✈️ Vegetation taking over the plane

✈️ Abandoned cockpit

Abandoned Planes On The Big And Small Screen

Various films – whether horror, action, science fiction, or any other genre – contributed to developing our fear of plane crashes, including the day after when the plane becomes abandoned.

Lost (2004-2010)

A clear example is, of course, the TV series “Lost,” which ran for six seasons and followed the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 from Sydney to Los Angeles, as they arrived on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean, with quite a few secrets, supernatural events, plot holes that are probably related to the writers’ strike, and many unanswered questions even after more than 120 episodes.

The series’ pilot episode is one of the most impressive and expensive ever, with an estimated cost of about $11 million. The pilot and the subsequent episodes repeatedly show the remains of the abandoned plane or what’s left.

Here is “Lost” opening scene, probably one of the best in the history of television:

Yellowjackets (2021-???)

Another successful series, also somewhat more closely related to horror, is “Yellowjackets.” The series focuses on the survivors of a plane crash involving a high school girls’ soccer team, their attempt to fight for their lives on the island (which also includes several cannibal scenes), and the aftermath of the people who got away. In the case of “Yellowjackets,” we got fewer bombastic shots of what was left of the plane, but its remains were a central part of the plot, the girls’ revelations and their attempts to escape.

Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

“Flight of the Phoenix” is based on a book by Elleston Trevor, which was made into a better film of the same name in 1965. The story revolves around oil company workers who are forced to land in the Mongolian desert after a sandstorm and try to survive against the forces of nature and some annoying characters from the cast (quite impressive, by the way, with names like Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Miranda Otto, Hugh Laurie, and Tyrese Gibson). In the end, one of them comes up with the idea of ​​using the remains of the same abandoned plane in the desert to build another smaller plane; for some reason, it even works.

The Grey (2011)

“The Grey,” starring Liam Neeson, focuses on an oil company plane that crashes in Alaska. The survivors are forced to fight against the elements of nature (especially the low temperatures), but especially against a pack of wolves who probably haven’t seen “Taken” or any other Liam Neeson film in the last twenty years and don’t know that it’s not worth messing with.

No Way Up (2024)

“No Way Up” deals with a question that probably no one asked themselves until they decided to make a survival film in the face of a thousand and one dangers simultaneously. The passengers of Flight 476, including the California governor’s daughter, her boyfriend and her bodyguard, a homosexual waiter, a girl traveling with her grandmother, and a few other annoying characters, think they are on their way to the flight of their dreams.

In reality, the plane crashes in the middle of the ocean, right above an underwater ravine. They find themselves fighting for their lives against the running out of oxygen, the plane that threatens to fall into the abyss, a pack of sharks, annoying characters who want them to die as quickly as possible, and more. You see, apparently, “just” crashing isn’t scary enough.

Famous Abandoned Planes Around The World

You will find countless abandoned airplanes worldwide or even mass “burial” sites for airplanes. Aircraft Boneyard, also known as an aircraft graveyard, is a specific place (sometimes an inactive airport) where airplanes are brought after there is no need for them so that they can be stored, disassembled for parts, and in a few cases, renovated and returned to operation. The problem is that in quite a few cases, airplane cemeteries remain “deadly” for a long time.

There are many aircraft graveyards in the United States, such as:

✈️ The Arizona Aircraft Cemetery, which houses military aircraft and is considered the most significant place in the world to store decommissioned military aircraft, partly due to the dry climate that reduces the risk of Rust and makes it easier to preserve the aircraft. Appeared in many movies, like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, and also knows for its ghost stories

✈️ Edwards Air Force Base – The Mojave Desert Air and Space Port in California

✈️ The Roswell Airport in New Mexico (with or without regard to the fact that the small town is most associated with UFOs, following the famous Roswell incident of 1947), and more.

Other examples worldwide are the Royal Canadian Air Force Base in Mount Antinori, Ontario, Canada; the Royal Canadian Air Force Base in Sobery, Great Britain; a cemetery for abandoned aircraft that opened a few years ago in Bangkok; and others.

Here is a short clip from Amazing Stock, with the story of 12 impressive abandoned planes:

Where Can You Find Abandoned Planes?

Locating abandoned aircraft is a task that requires a combination of digital tools and in-depth research. You won’t see an abandoned plane on every corner, but you may find surprises occasionally.

The first option is to look for abandoned planes on Google Maps or Google Earth. You can start by searching for specific terms such as “abandoned aircraft,” “abandoned aircraft fields” in the desired area, or even “abandoned planes near me” if you count on your GPS location. In this article, for example, you will see some creepy places found of Google Earth, including The Boneyard in Arizona.

In addition, many websites specialize in preserving and storing old aircraft. Urban Exploration photographers regularly document abandoned aircraft and share the locations on dedicated forums. On social networks, especially on Instagram and Flickr, you may find extensive documentation under tags such as #abandonedaircraft or #aircraftboneyard.

It is important to note that in many cases, local tourist sites offer guided tours of these sites, providing legal and safe access. We must remember that visiting an abandoned plane, in many cases, may be risky or even forbidden.

Abandoned Planes For Sale: A Super Deal?

Purchasing abandoned aircraft is more complex and requires a deep understanding of the aviation market. Some companies specialize in selling used aircraft or even abandoned planes for sale. Airlines and militaries across the globe hold periodic auctions to sell old equipment, including entire aircraft. Aircraft dismantling companies sometimes offer entire aircraft for purchase before they are disassembled into parts. Industrial trading platforms such as Alibaba sometimes list old aircraft for sale. You can also contact aircraft storage companies directly, which often hold aircraft that have been abandoned or not claimed by their owners.

It is important to note that purchasing an abandoned aircraft requires a thorough examination of the aircraft’s mechanical condition, maintenance history, and legal status. In addition, you must consider the costs associated with transporting, storing, and preserving the aircraft.

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