British And Russian Planes Collide

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1948, Page 5

British And Russian Planes Collide

( N.Z.P.A J

Reuter.

London Views Circumstances Seriously

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, 11.5 a.m; LONDON, April 5. A British-I^uropean Airways Viking aircraft collided With a Russian fighter plane in mid-air over Saaken Airfield this afternoon and crashed near Gatow Airfield, in the British sector. All 14 passengers. and members.of the crew were 1 killed. The oecupant of the fighter was als® killed.

The Viking was flying from London to Berlin, via Ham"burg, and^ over the HamburgBerlin air corridor. A British Empire Airways' spokesman said: "Our information is that the Russian fighter plane flew aeross-the bow of our plane." Soldiers at Gatow said the aircraft was coming in for a landing when the collision happened. A small singleseater Russian fighter appeared to fiy close to the passenger aircraft, and then their wings brushed. Both planes crashed in flames. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "A very serious view is taken in London of today's air crash in Berlin. The Foreign Secretary is in touch with the British Military Governor, General Robertson, who is communicating with the Russian Commander-in-Chief. Full information will be given in the House of Oommons tomorrow." General Robertson ° announced that the British would use fighter escorts until the Russians guaranteed freedom oi' the air corridor. Gerenal Robertson has gone to Potsclam to confer with Marshal Sokoslovsky.