AIR LINER CRASHES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19851, 12 February 1930, Page 11

AIR LINER CRASHES.

* DISASTER TO FRENCH MACHINE. TWO PASSENGERS KILLED. (l-KITEJ» PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY BI.ECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) LONDON, February 10. Two were killed and three injured when a French Air Union's aeroplane mado a forced landing in Kent and burst into flames, as the result of an explosion of petrol. The air liner was caught in a blinding snowstorm. _ The pilot attempted to land at an auxiliary aerodrome near Marden. when the machine stalled and nose-dived, striking the ground with great force. It was immediately enveloped in fire, and soon became a mass of glowing metal. Two passengers, one a woman, were trapped, being jammed against the engine, and were burned to death. The pilot was thrown clear and escaped with severe injuries. Those killed included Mr A. Hodge and his wife, who were married on February 2nd in tho Wesloyan Church at Sheerness. They went to Paris by air for their honeymoon, from which fchoy were returning. Both belonged to Sheerness. Mr Hodge was formerly a schoolmaster in tho Royal Navy, and recently returned from New Zealand, where he served two and a hnlf yearn in the cruiser Dunedin. He received an appointment as schoolmaster at Shotley on his wedding day. WHAT EYE-WITNESSES SAW. (Received February lltb, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 11. Eye-witnesses state that the tail of the aeroplane was (lapping when the liner crashed. Hodges was badly burned, and ' the woman's body was only identified by a bangle. She was only 21 years of age. "She w#s so thrilled by a former air trip that she determined to go on her honeymoon by air, so that her husband could also have the experience. After flying well from Paris the aeroplane suddenly developed trouble over Kent. The pilot endeavoured to make a landing in snow-covered fields, but dropped direct into a farmer's paddock. An eye-witness declared that he saw the machine flying low, apparently out of control, for the nose shot into tho air and the tail downward, but even when fifty feet from the ground it appeared as though it would bo righted. Then it seemed to collapse and burst, into flames as soon as it touched the ground. It was reported that M. Tardieu would have been aboard returning to the Naval Conference, if he had not been delayed by a Cabinet meeting at Paris. THE SURVIVOR'S STORY. (Received February 11th, 7.20 p.m.) | ! LONDON, February 11. Mr Curzon, in an interview, said that after the aeroplane's departure from Lo Bourget the engine was misfiring. The plugs were changed and the journey resumed. The trouble Mas due to tho tail plane. The pilot, Le Scullier, told us that it necessitated descending and he hoped to get down safely. "There was no panic when the crash came," he went on to say, [ "and I was standing up and was thrown semi-conscious, but came round ■with a great effort of will. I saw the flames and climbed out." CROYDON-CAPE TOWN SERVICE. READY BY END OF YEAR. (Received February 11th, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, February 10. Sir Alan Cobham has returned from aerial survey work in Africa. He declared that the Croydon-Cape Town route was one of the greatest in the world. The service, it was expected, would be operating at the end of the i year. It would open up Africa more quickly than anv other development in the continent's history. AEROPLANE SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON, February 10. A message from Australia suggests that the Prime Minister (Mr J. H. Scullin) is awaiting the British indication of the Commonwealth's probable share in the cost of a regular aeroplane service to Australia. According to London air circles, the Anglo-Australian negotiations reached a decisive state before Mr Scullin assumed office, but lapsed pending his statement of policy. PASSENGER RESCUES THREE MEN. (BBITISB OmCML WIRELESS.) (Received February 11th, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, February 10. When the Goliath aeroplane o belonging to the French Air Union, bound from Paris to Croydon, made a forced landing at Staplehurst m Kent, it burst into llames as it touched the snow-covered ground. Mr Hugh Curzon, of Hull, was the only other passenger besides Mr and Mrs Hodges and Monsieur Nevot, the and two mechanics, who were all injured, and ore now in hospital. According to eyewitnesses, Mr Curzon who jumped clear as the machine neared the ground, gallantly dashed into the flames and saved the pilot and the two mechanics. FLYING TO AUSTRALIA. NEW ZEALANDERS DELAYED. LONDON, February 10. A message from Lyons reports that Flying-Officers H. L. Piper and C. Kay were prevented from resuming their flight to Italy by heavy snowballs and thick mist.