AIR MAIL CRASH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 93, 30 January 1934, Page 5

AIR MAIL CRASH

THE TRANS-ATLANTIC yENTURE.

PLANE. WRECKED ON BEACH. NORTH OF DESTINATION. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 8.55 a.m.) FORTALEZA (Brazil), Jan. 29. The Italian trans-Atlantic air mail ’plane, which left Rome on Saturday, piloted by Commander Lombardi and Captain Nazyotti, and carrying live hundredweight' of mail, crashed on the beach 12 miles south of here early today and was found by a Pan-American Airways ’plane, which reported that its pilot believed that three of the four Italians had escaped death. The Pan American ’plane was carrying passengers and was unable to land, but it circled over the wrecked machine and the pilot reported sighting three men. A later message states that the four Italian flyers were brought here by a rescue party. The mechanic and the radioman were slightly injurejd in the crash. Fortaleza, is on the coast of Brazil, 270 miles north (by air line) of Natal, which was the ’piano’s destination. FAR OFF THEIR COURSE. V DRIFT TO THE NORTHWARD. PERNAMBUCO, January 29. , The possibility, that Commander Lombardi, the Italian airman flying the Atlantic with mail, and his three companions, were far off their course from West-. Africa to Natal was being investigated early to-day. The Italians are long overdue. Thfe last message from their wireless was, intercepted at 12.30 a.m. It appeared 'to he somewhat weak, indicating that they had strayed from the direct route. Reports from Fortaleza that an aeroplane had been heard in the vicinity at 12.’10 a.m. strengthened the impression.