Tunis – Nice – Paris

On March 3, 1952 at 08:10 AM, Tunis – Nice – Paris experienced a crash involving SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc, operated by Air France, with the event recorded near Nice Alpes-Maritimes.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

38 people were known to be on board, 38 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 34, passenger fatalities: 34, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Forty-five seconds after takeoff from runway 04 at Nice Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft banked left, overturned and crashed in a huge explosion near the Saint-Augustin station, north of the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and only a female passenger was found alive. Unfortunately, she died from her injuries four days later. Among those killed were both French actresses Michèle Verly and Lise Topart, and also the Welsh politician John Emlyn-Jones. Crew: Mr. Farrugia, pilot, Mr. Fraillon, radio operator, Mr. Cavaille, mechanic, Mr. Biancheri, steward.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-BCUM, MSN 43, year of manufacture 1948.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 43.6966°, 7.3285°.