diff --git a/doc/pr-changelogs/3348.md b/doc/pr-changelogs/3348.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ac2eb226cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/pr-changelogs/3348.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ * fixed attack queues stalling or skipping the next target when the current target is made neutral.
+ * attack orders now skip crashing aircraft when the `fireAtDead.fireAtCrashing` modrule is disabled. Fighters also respect this modrule when selecting targets automatically.
diff --git a/rts/Game/GameHelper.cpp b/rts/Game/GameHelper.cpp
index e8c521ea03..943488558b 100644
--- a/rts/Game/GameHelper.cpp
+++ b/rts/Game/GameHelper.cpp
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ namespace {
 		{
 			EnemyAircraft(const CUnit* exclUnit, int allyTeam) : Enemy_InLos(exclUnit, allyTeam) {}
 			bool Unit(const CUnit* u) {
-				return (u->unitDef->canfly && !u->IsCrashing() && Enemy_InLos::Unit(u));
+				return (u->unitDef->canfly && (modInfo.fireAtCrashing || !u->IsCrashing()) && Enemy_InLos::Unit(u));
 			}
 		};
 
diff --git a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/AirCAI.cpp b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/AirCAI.cpp
index 74eb2cc3db..20e9b266b7 100644
--- a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/AirCAI.cpp
+++ b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/AirCAI.cpp
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ void CAirCAI::ExecuteAttack(Command& c)
 			return;
 		}
 		if (orderTarget != nullptr) {
-			if (orderTarget->unitDef->canfly && orderTarget->IsCrashing()) {
+			if (SkipCrashingTarget(orderTarget)) {
 				owner->DropCurrentAttackTarget();
 				StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
 				return;
@@ -431,6 +431,10 @@ void CAirCAI::ExecuteAttack(Command& c)
 				StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
 				return;
 			}
+			if (SkipCrashingTarget(targetUnit)) {
+				StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
+				return;
+			}
 
 			SetGoal(targetUnit->pos, owner->pos, cancelDistance);
 			SetOrderTarget(targetUnit);
@@ -539,7 +543,7 @@ int CAirCAI::GetDefaultCmd(const CUnit* pointed, const CFeature* feature)
 bool CAirCAI::IsValidTarget(const CUnit* enemy, CWeapon* weapon) const {
 	if (!CMobileCAI::IsValidTarget(enemy, weapon))
 		return false;
-	if (enemy->IsCrashing())
+	if (SkipCrashingTarget(enemy))
 		return false;
 	return (GetStrafeAirMoveType(owner)->isFighter || !enemy->unitDef->canfly);
 }
diff --git a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.cpp b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.cpp
index 6cbc5487a7..b4331f5420 100644
--- a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.cpp
+++ b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.cpp
@@ -1497,6 +1497,11 @@ void CCommandAI::ExecuteAttack(Command& c)
 			FinishCommand();
 			return;
 		}
+		if (SkipCrashingTarget(orderTarget)) {
+			owner->DropCurrentAttackTarget();
+			FinishCommand();
+			return;
+		}
 		if (!(c.GetOpts() & ALT_KEY) && SkipParalyzeTarget(orderTarget)) {
 			FinishCommand();
 			return;
@@ -1517,6 +1522,10 @@ void CCommandAI::ExecuteAttack(Command& c)
 				FinishCommand();
 				return;
 			}
+			if (SkipCrashingTarget(targetUnit)) {
+				FinishCommand();
+				return;
+			}
 
 			SetOrderTarget(targetUnit);
 			owner->AttackUnit(targetUnit, !c.IsInternalOrder(), c.GetID() == CMD_MANUALFIRE);
@@ -1832,6 +1841,11 @@ bool CCommandAI::HasMoreMoveCommands(bool skipFirstCmd) const
 
 
 bool CCommandAI::CanChangeFireState() const { return (owner->unitDef->CanChangeFireState()); }
+bool CCommandAI::SkipCrashingTarget(const CUnit* target) const
+{
+	return (target != nullptr && !modInfo.fireAtCrashing && target->IsCrashing());
+}
+
 bool CCommandAI::SkipParalyzeTarget(const CUnit* target) const
 {
 	RECOIL_DETAILED_TRACY_ZONE;
@@ -1854,7 +1868,18 @@ void CCommandAI::StopAttackingTargetIf(const std::function<bool(const CUnit*)>&
 	const auto hasTarget = [&](const Command& c) { return (c.GetNumParams() == 1 && (c.GetID() == CMD_FIGHT || c.GetID() == CMD_ATTACK)); };
 	const auto removeCmd = [&](const Command& c) { return (hasTarget(c) && pred(unitHandler.GetUnit(c.GetParam(0)))); };
 
+	const bool frontRemoved = (!commandQue.empty() && removeCmd(commandQue.front()));
+
 	commandQue.erase(std::remove_if(commandQue.begin(), commandQue.end(), removeCmd), commandQue.end());
+
+	// the order being executed was erased without FinishCommand; clear its
+	// execution state so the next queued order starts fresh instead of being
+	// judged against the old target (or never initialised at all)
+	if (frontRemoved) {
+		inCommand = CMD_STOP;
+		targetDied = false;
+		SetOrderTarget(nullptr);
+	}
 }
 
 void CCommandAI::StopAttackingAllyTeam(int ally)
diff --git a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.h b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.h
index 5a3ac40771..ae70944ab1 100644
--- a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.h
+++ b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/CommandAI.h
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 /* This file is part of the Spring engine (GPL v2 or later), see LICENSE.html */
 
-#ifndef _COMMAND_AI_H
-#define _COMMAND_AI_H
+#pragma once
 
 #include <functional>
 #include <vector>
@@ -139,6 +138,7 @@ class CCommandAI : public CObject
 	virtual bool SelectNewAreaAttackTargetOrPos(const Command& ac) { return true; }
 
 	bool IsAttackCapable() const;
+	bool SkipCrashingTarget(const CUnit* target) const;
 	bool SkipParalyzeTarget(const CUnit* target) const;
 
 	void GiveAllowedCommand(const Command& c, bool fromSynced = true);
@@ -176,5 +176,3 @@ inline void CCommandAI::SetOrderTarget(CUnit* o) {
 		AddDeathDependence(reinterpret_cast<CObject*>(orderTarget), DEPENDENCE_ORDERTARGET);
 	}
 }
-
-#endif // _COMMAND_AI_H
diff --git a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/MobileCAI.cpp b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/MobileCAI.cpp
index ea81d5ae45..f7beb26de9 100644
--- a/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/MobileCAI.cpp
+++ b/rts/Sim/Units/CommandAI/MobileCAI.cpp
@@ -922,6 +922,10 @@ void CMobileCAI::ExecuteAttack(Command& c)
 					StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
 					return;
 				}
+				if (SkipCrashingTarget(targetUnit)) {
+					StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
+					return;
+				}
 
 				const float3 tgtErrPos = targetUnit->GetErrorPos(owner->allyteam, false);
 				const float3 tgtPosDir = (tgtErrPos - owner->pos).Normalize();
@@ -953,6 +957,11 @@ void CMobileCAI::ExecuteAttack(Command& c)
 		StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
 		return;
 	}
+	if (SkipCrashingTarget(orderTarget)) {
+		owner->DropCurrentAttackTarget();
+		StopMoveAndFinishCommand();
+		return;
+	}
 
 
 	// user clicked on enemy unit; either stop and attack or turn/move toward it