Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 26 April 1955
Aircraft Type: Vickers Varsity T.1
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: WF426
Location: Onnaing –
ÿ France
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Component Affected: Vickers Varsity aircraft.Vickers Varsity aircraft.
Category: Accident
On April 25, 1955, a Vickers Varsity plane was hijacked and flown towards London by a mechanic from Thorney Island RAF Station. The plane circled the city for three hours before being lost by a pursuing Vickers Varsity. Following this, the pilot and four occupants of the farmhouse at Onnaing in France were killed in a crash.On April 25, 1955, a Vickers Varsity plane was hijacked and flown towards London by a mechanic from Thorney Island RAF Station. The plane circled the city for three hours before being lost by a pursuing Vickers Varsity. Following this, the pilot and four occupants of the farmhouse at Onnaing in France were killed in a crash.
Description
On April 25, 1955 about 19:00 local time, the Varsity plane was taken on an unauthorised flight by a mechanic from Thorney Island RAF Station. The airplane flew towards the London area, circling the city. All the time the airplane was being chased by another Vickers Varsity from Thorney Island. After three hours the chase plane lost sight of the stolen plane. The mechanic continued flying low over southern England and then across The Channel to France. Shortly after midnight the airplane crashed into a farmhouse at Onnaing, near Valenciennes in northern France. Four occupants of the house were killed, along with the pilot.
Primary Cause
Unauthorized flight and pursuit by multiple aircraft.Unauthorized flight and pursuit by multiple aircraft.Share on:
