United Nations Security Council Resolution 168 was adopted on November 3 , 1961 . After Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in a plane crash , the Security Council met to select his successor . The Council recommended to the General Assembly that Burmese diplomat U Thant be appointed as acting Secretary-General for the remainder of rest of Hammarskjöld 's term
killed in a plane crash
1961 Ndola United Nations DC-6 crash
United Nations Security Council Resolution 168