FRENCH AIR SMASH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 895, 12 February 1930, Page 11

FRENCH AIR SMASH

FLAMES FOLLOW FORCED LANDING HOW YOUNG COUPLE DIED

LONDON, Monday. Eye-witnesses of the crash of the French air liner on its way from Paris to Croydon, in which Mr. and Mrs. A. Hodge, it honeymoon couple, were killed, describe the disaster. After flying well from Paris the airplane suddenly developed trouble above Kent. The pilot endeavoured to make a landing in some snow-cov-ered fields, but dropped direct into a farmer’s paddock. One eye-witness said he saw the machine flying low. Apparently she was out of control for her nose shot into the air and her tail pointed downward. But even when she was 50ft. from the ground it appeared as though she would be righted. Then the machine seemed to collapse and burst into flames as soon as she touched the ground. Mr. Hugh Curzon, of Hull, was the only othe r passenger besides Mr. and Mrs. Hodge. The pilot and two mechanics were all injured and are now in hospital. According to eye-witnesses, Mr. Curzon. who had jumped clear as the machine neared the ground, gallantly dashed into the flames and saved the lives of the pilot and the two mechancis. CAUSE OF THE CRASH Mr. Curzon stated in an interview that after the French airplane left Le Bourget the engine was misfiring. They returned to Lf: Bourget, where the plugs were changed and the journey was resumed. The trouble was due to the tail control of the airplane going wrong. "The pilot told us he would have to descend and that he hoped to reach the ground safely,” said Mr. Curzon. “There was no panic. When the crash came I was standing up. I was thrown and was semi-conscious, but recovered my senses with a great effort of will. I saw the flames and climbed out.” Eye-witnesses state that the tail of the machine was flapping when she crashed. Mrs. Hodge was only 21 years old. She had been so thrilled by a former trip by air that she determined to go on her honeymoon by air so that her husband might also have the experience.