Luqa - Northolt

On July 4, 1948 at 03:03 PM, Luqa - Northolt experienced a crash involving Avro 685 York, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Northwood London Metropolis.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 7 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: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The four engine aircraft left Malta-Luqa Airport bound for RAF Northolt with four passengers and a crew of three on board. While approaching the London area, the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. The crew was cleared to descent to 3,000 feet when the aircraft collided with a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) DC-6 registered SE-BDA. Inbound from Amsterdam, this second aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and a crew of 7. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Northwood, about 4 miles north of RAF Northolt. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 39 people were killed. Among the passenger of the York was Sir Gerard Edward James, High Commissioner in Malaysia for Her Majesty the Queen of England.

Aircraft reference details include registration MW248, MSN MW248, year of manufacture 1946.