Düsseldorf – London

On April 8, 1955 at 12:00 AM, Düsseldorf – London experienced a crash involving Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador, operated by British European Airways - BEA, with the event recorded near Düsseldorf-Lohausen North Rhine-Westphalia.

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.

53 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 53 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 47, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. About six minutes after takeoff from Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport, while in initial climb, the crew reported engine problems and received the permission to return. At this time, it appears that the left engine went into reverse. After completing a circuit, the pilot continued the approach at low height and in poor weather conditions when high tension wires forced him to gain height. He increased power on the right engine but the aircraft stalled and hit the ground with its left wing that was severely bent and partially sheared off. Upon impact, the left engine was sheared off and the airplane came to rest in a muddy field located few km from the airport. All 53 occupants were evacuated and only the crew was slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-AMAB, MSN 5224, year of manufacture 1951.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.2812°, 6.7662°.