OFF THE COURSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1934, Page 7

OFF THE COURSE.

ITALIAN FLYERS.

Mail 'Plane Crashes in Brazil After Ocean Crossing.

TWO MEN SLIGHTLY INJURED

;United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 10.30 a.m.) FORTALEZA (Brazil), January 29. The two Italian airmen, Lombardi and Mazzotti, who, accompanied by two companions, left Rome on January 27 with oewt of mails for Buenos Ayres, via Dakar, West Africa, and the transatlantic route to Natal, Brazil, crashed on the beach 12 miles south of here early on Monday morning.

The flyers were found by a PanAmerican Company's 'plane, which reported that the pilot believed three of the four Italians had escaped death. As the Pan-American machine was carrying passengers it was unable to land, but circled round the wrecked 'plane, and the pilot reported having seen three men.

All four Italians were ultimately brought here by a rescue party. The mechanic and the wireless operator were slightly injured.

It was earlier reported that fears were j felt for the safety of the airmen, who hoped to reach their destination in three days. A message from Dakar stated that thev departed thence on Sunday.: The possibility that the Italians were j far off their course from West Africa j to Natal was investigated at Pernam-1 buco to-day, when they were long overdue. |

The last message from their wireless was intercepted at 12.30 a.m. It appeared somewhat weak, indicating that they had strayed from the direct route. Reports here that an aeroplane had been heard in the vicinity at 12.10 a.m. | strengthened the impression. Fortaleza is 300 miles north of Natal.