Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 13 April 1950
Aircraft Type: Vickers 610 Viking 1B
Owner/operator: British European Airways – BEA
Registration Number: G-AIVL
Location: 48 km S of Hastings –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 32
Component Affected: The aircraft fuselage.The aircraft fuselage.
Category: Unlawful Interference
A catastrophic explosion occurred in the rear of a ‘Vigilant’ aircraft over the Channel, resulting in significant damage and injuring the flight attendant. The explosion created a large hole in the fuselage, forcing the captain to return to Northolt for a safe landing. A suspicion of a suicide attempt involving a French passenger was also noted.A catastrophic explosion occurred in the rear of a ‘Vigilant’ aircraft over the Channel, resulting in significant damage and injuring the flight attendant. The explosion created a large hole in the fuselage, forcing the captain to return to Northolt for a safe landing. A suspicion of a suicide attempt involving a French passenger was also noted.
Description
En route over the Channel, a explosion occurred in the rear of the plane, seriously injuring the flight attendant. The explosion caused an 8 feet high and 4 feet wide hole in the fuselage. Without rudder and most elevator control the captain, presuming a lightning strike, returned to Northolt where he made a safe landing. A French passenger was suspected of making a suicide attempt. The airplane, named “Vigilant” was repaired and entered service again on October 4, 1950. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The damage to the aircraft was a result of an explosion of an infernal machine in the toilet compartment. The probable location of this destructive agent was in the used paper towel receptacle.”
Primary Cause
An explosion of an infernal machine within the used paper towel receptacle.An explosion of an infernal machine within the used paper towel receptacle.Share on:
