TRAGIC CRASH

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 306, 10 December 1936, Page 4

TRAGIC CRASH

PASSENGERS KILLED. t Inventor Of Autogiro Among The Dead. Press Association —Copyright. Received 11.30 a.m. London, Dec. 6. A K.L.M. Air Liner bound" for Amsterdam, crashed in flames in a street at Purley, a few minutes after leaving Croydon. It is officially reported that fourteen are dead, three injured, and three have died in hospital. The survivors include a passenger named Schuberk, a stewardess, and the wireless operator. The machine was delayed by fog but started on the advice of improved weather reports. It crashed close to the spot where an Imperial Airways’ plane crashed in August, and damaged the roofs of two houses before it stopped on the roof of an empty one which was quickly ablaze, flames spreading W two adjoining houses. r The plane burned so fiercely’ that would-be rescuers were unable to get within twenty yards. Two fire engines eventually extinguished the tire. The occupants w r ere removed, to hospital severely burnt Ten bodies were taken to the mortuary. The passengers included Senor LaCierva, inventor of the autogyro, and Admiral Lindmann, former Premier of Sweden. Their fate is unknown.