In a significant breakthrough, the long-standing World War II mystery surrounding the fate of a Finnish passenger plane, shot down by Soviet bombers over the Baltic Sea, seems to have been resolved after over eight decades. The aircraft, a Junkers Ju 52 operated by Finnish airline Aero, was carrying American and French diplomatic couriers when it was downed in June 1940, just days before the Soviet annexation of the Baltic states.

A diving and salvage team in Estonia announced this week that they have located well-preserved parts and debris of the historic plane off the coast of the small island of Keri, near Tallinn, at a depth of approximately 70 meters (230 feet). The team, from the Estonian diving and underwater survey company Tuukritoode OU, attributed their success to a different approach in the search.

The civilian plane, named Kaleva, was en route from Tallinn to Helsinki when it was shot down, making it a unique incident during peacetime on a normal scheduled flight. The aircraft's destruction had been a closely guarded secret for many years, with Finland publicly describing it as a "mysterious crash" to avoid provoking Moscow. The incident holds significance not only for Finland's World War II history but also shed light on its troubled relations with the Soviet Union at the time.

The downing of Kaleva took place just days before the Soviet Union's annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which sealed the fate of the Baltic states for the following half-century. The plane's cargo included diplomatic pouches from U.S. missions in Tallinn and Riga, leading to speculation about the contents that Moscow may have wanted to prevent from leaving Estonia.

The wreckage of Kaleva had remained elusive despite several attempts to locate it in the past. Even the U.S. Navy's oceanographic survey vessel Pathfinder, commissioned by the Estonian government, was unable to find any remains in a 2008 search. However, underwater robots deployed by Tuukritoode OU recently captured clear images of the three-engine Junkers' landing gear, one motor, and sections of the wings, leaving the team convinced that they have located the remains of Kaleva.

The discovery has sparked interest not only in Finnish and Estonian aviation history but also in the United States, as Kaleva crash claimed the life of U.S. diplomat Henry W. Antheil Jr., who is considered one of the first U.S. casualties of World War II. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has been closely involved in documenting and researching the case over the years.

The salvage team plans to create 3D images of the wreckage and discuss with Estonian authorities the possibility of raising significant items, including the plane's cargo and human remains, if found. The efforts of the diving group will be closely monitored by Washington, who is eager to collaborate with Finnish and Estonian allies on any developments resulting from the recovery efforts.

As closure is brought to this tragic event, a stone memorial on Keri island and a memorial plaque at Helsinki's Malmi airport terminal pay homage to the victims of the Kaleva crash, reminding us of the importance of this historical event in the aviation history of the region.