Air Tragedies In Britain: 28 Dead

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1949, Page 5

Air Tragedies In Britain: 28 Dead

LONDON, August 19. _ Twentv-eigbt peonle were killed in two air disasters today. - Twentv-four were killed and sik injured when a Dakota crasbed near Oldham, and four wore killed wben an aircraft disintegrated in mid-air near Bhipley, in Yorksbire. The Dakota, belonging to the British European Airwavs, was on a scheduled flight from Belfast to Manchester. There were 32 persons aboard, including a' crew of four. A British European Aiways spokesman said the Dakota burst into flames after erashing. Workers from a naper mill found the dead and injured near the plane which came down on Baddleworth Moors, about five miles from Oldham.. The Dakota rau into dense mist while apparently trving to flnd IHanehester airpoTt and crashed with a reporrt that conld be heard for miles. v Beveral passengers with their clothes on flre staggered out of the wreckage, Rome of the passengers are believed to have been trapped in the wreckagc and some of the more sefiously injured died after being rescued. 0 i; The plane which disintegrated near ' Shiplev was a Proctor owned by the | T.ancashire Aircraft Oorporation. Tt ! was on a test flight, and the four ldlled were all empToyees of the ccmpanv. Eve-witnesses said the wing fell ofP 'and the pTane cauglit flre and crashed into a cornfleld.