Maharanee’s Air Mishaps and a Rescued Powder-Puff

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 22

Maharanee’s Air Mishaps and a Rescued Powder-Puff

rI STORY of a woman’s wwlt/z pluck was unfolded when the Maharanee of Cooch landed at the airport at Karachi, India, from the Imperial Airways air mail liner City of Bagdad. She seemed very relieved indeed as she shook hands solemnly with all her fellow passengers—and for her relief there was reason, as the tale she recounted afterward fully demonstrated. She went on board the City of Alex-

andria at Naples and the journey x- !u r . 113I 13 Mersa Matruh (on the North African coast) was uneventful It was while attempting to get clear from Mersa that the wing of the machine hit a buoy, putting the flving-boat out of action. Another flying-boat, the City of

Athens, was summoned from Alexandria, and the passengers and mans were transferred.

Thereupon occurred a further acddent which almost cost the Maharanee her life. Twice, as the machine wis attempting to take off, It met an cnfavourible wind and dashed Into tne reef, the bottom of the flyrng-boa. being cut off. In Water to Waists The pilot, who retained his presence of mind immediately taxied the almost bottomless flying-boat toward “ coe.st and beached on the rocks witn the occupants up to their w lists » water. The Maharanee and Mrs. Jobson,tie two women passengers, were irehelped out. In making way for toother passengers the Maharani stepped near the propeller aud on. a timely shout from Captain Kubw Rajendra Singh, who was accomp A Ing her, stopped her from steppi™ backward into the whirling bind which had already torn her ccat The passengers were rescued troth the rocks by boats and an’ un;)lea®“£ night was spent ashore, all their g 3 ments being soaked. "Another male passenger,” '.aid Maharanee, “attempted to t* . pyjamas, but with little success, as he had soaked himself up . neck in an effort to rescue my P° ... case, it did not lower him la mation.” When the Imperial Airways City of Bagdad next an ! ,,c “ rna i l i Maharanee decided that she keep on flying. But she wa. even then out of her trials, i starboard engine of the City ° nl j dad proceeded to give trouble, the pilot had to alight at Giza, they did not proceed until the day, after the engine had bee! o hauled.