London – Brindisi – Alexandria

Just prior to takeoff, while the crew was preparing the departure, a fire erupted. The aircraft christened 'Sylvanus' exploded in the harbor of Brindisi and was rapidly consumed by fire. A passenger was injured while all twelve other occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

London – Brindisi – Alexandria

Aircraft

Short S.17 Kent

Registration

G-ABFB

MSN

S.759

Year of Manufacture

1930

Date

November 9, 1935 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Parking

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Brindisi Apulia

Region

Europe • Italy

Coordinates

40.6359°, 17.6885°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On November 9, 1935 at 12:00 AM, London – Brindisi – Alexandria experienced a crash involving Short S.17 Kent, operated by Imperial Airways, with the event recorded near Brindisi Apulia.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was parking at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

13 people were known to be on board, 12 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 92.3%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Just prior to takeoff, while the crew was preparing the departure, a fire erupted. The aircraft christened 'Sylvanus' exploded in the harbor of Brindisi and was rapidly consumed by fire. A passenger was injured while all twelve other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-ABFB, MSN S.759, year of manufacture 1930.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.6359°, 17.6885°.

Fatalities

Total

12

Crew

3

Passengers

9

Other

0

Crash Summary

Just prior to takeoff, while the crew was preparing the departure, a fire erupted. The aircraft christened 'Sylvanus' exploded in the harbor of Brindisi and was rapidly consumed by fire. A passenger was injured while all twelve other occupants were killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

10

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

92.3%

Known people on board: 13

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

London – Brindisi – Alexandria

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Parking

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Europe • Italy

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Short S.17 Kent

Registration

G-ABFB

MSN

S.759

Year of Manufacture

1930

Similar Plane Crashes

May 17, 1919 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

Royal Air Force - RAF

Handley Page H.P.12

The aircraft departed London on a flight to Cairo, carrying four crew members. In Paris, one passenger, Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence (awa Lawrence of Arabia) embarked to fly to Cairo after taking part to the 1919 Peace Conference in Paris. While approaching Rome-Centocelle Airport at dusk, the pilot encountered limited visibility and attempted a go-around procedure when the aircraft clipped a tree and crashed upside down. Both pilots were killed and three other occupants were injured. Crew: 2nd Lt Frederick George Prince, pilot, † 2nd Lt Sydney Spratt, pilot, † Aircraftman F. J. Daw +1. Passenger: Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence.

October 2, 1922 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

De Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service

De Havilland DH.9

Shortly after takeoff from Venice Airport, while climbing, the aircraft named 'Atlanta' crashed in the sea and sank. All four occupants were killed.

May 27, 1924 at 12:00 AM

Imperial Airways

De Havilland DH.34

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. All occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

September 23, 1924 at 12:00 AM

Imperial Airways

De Havilland DH.34

Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All seven occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

December 24, 1924 at 12:00 PM8 Fatalities

Imperial Airways

De Havilland DH.34

Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the aircraft suffered a technical problem, stalled and crashed in an open field located in Purley, some 2,4 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. SAR arrived quickly on the scene but it was impossible to rescue the eight occupants who were prisoner of the fire. The pilot and five passengers were British citizens, another was Brazilian and the last was a Chilean.

July 3, 1925 at 12:00 AM

Imperial Airways

De Havilland DH.34

The aircraft was performing a special flight from Croydon to Newcastle to follow the 'King's Cup Air Race'. En route, while cruising over Durham County, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. As the pilot was unable to localize the destination, he decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft impacted a ditch and came to rest against trees. While all seven occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.