THEORIES OF CRASH

Evening Post, Issue 36, 12 February 1935, Page 16

THEORIES OF CRASH

DOUGLAS AIRLINER

' .COMPANY'S VERSION

(From- "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, January 12, A communication, from the X.L.M. (Royal Dutch Air Lines}. about the accident to the Douglas airliner at Kutbah on December; 20 adheres to the theory that lightning was the cause of the accident, and states that the-official report is still awaited. This conflicts with another report, that Dutch Goverment investigators' had examined the wreckage and' come to the conclusion that lightning was' not the cause of the crash. The X.L.M. report states that various metallic' parts, of the machine, and several; tools, which were found near the wreckage and. had not been touched by the petrol fire, showed marks of extreme local heat and even partial melting, which is typical of'lightning. The bodies of the six victims were found outside the machine, entirely untouched by the fire. Medical examination, however, states this com-r municatioiv, showed typical burns on : all the parts which had been in touch with the metallic chairs and the nature of these burns "confirms the theory of the occupants being struck by '■ lightning, causing instantaneous death." I The- communication•: concludes with lan expression of thanks to the R.A.F., [ the Irak authorities, and Imperial Air,'ways "for assistance given.