Luqa – Northolt
Flight / Schedule
Luqa – Northolt
Aircraft
Vickers ValettaRegistration
VX562
Year of Manufacture
1950
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
January 15, 1953 at 04:48 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Agrigento Sicily
Region
Europe • Italy
Coordinates
37.3123°, 13.5747°
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On January 15, 1953 at 04:48 AM, Luqa – Northolt experienced a crash involving Vickers Valetta, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Agrigento Sicily.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
19 people were known to be on board, 19 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 16, passenger fatalities: 16, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 registered TX270. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration VX562, year of manufacture 1950.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 37.3123°, 13.5747°.
Fatalities
Total
19
Crew
3
Passengers
16
Other
0
Crash Summary
While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 registered TX270. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
16
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 19
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Luqa – Northolt
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Europe • Italy
Aircraft Details
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