30 KILLED IN U.S. AIRLINER’S CRASH AT SHANNON AIRPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22613, 16 April 1948, Page 5

30 KILLED IN U.S. AIRLINER’S CRASH AT SHANNON AIRPORT

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter —Coryrignt.) (10 a.m.) LONDON, April 15. Thirty lives were lost this morning- when the Pan-American Airways’ Constellation air-liner, Empress of the Skies, flying- from Karachi to New York, crashed and exploded at the entrance to the main runway of the Shannon airport in Eire.

She carried 21 passengers and a crew of 10. There was only one survivor. He is Mr. Mark Worst, the European head of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. The Constellation left the London airport at 1.25 a m. The report said it ' was making a second pass at the runway when it hit an obstacle near the airport and burst into flames. It was completely burned out. Nineteen of those killed were Amer- ' icans, five Italians, two Indians, one British, one French, one Pakistan and 1 one stateless. Seemed to Fly Into Ground 1 Mr. Worst told the British United - Press that the aircraft seemed to fly ’ directly into the ground. The impact flung him through the belly of the luggage compartment as the aircraft disintegrated. “I was a little dazed but was able to get up and walk away from the scene,’’ he added There seemed to be nothing wrong with the aircraft, but the weather was bad, with a ground mist. His wife, who was awaiting him at the airport, saw the crash. Pan American Airways officials at Shannon said the Constellation was making an instrument-approach landing in low visibility. Pan American Airways and Shannon airport officials have no theories as to the cause of the crash. The plane appeared to be making a normal landing and had not radioed that she was in difficulty. . Released Safety Belt Mr. Worst said he believed there was nothing wrong mechanically as the plane made the final landing approach. He unfastened his safety belt when he realised the plane would crash. Tire passengers were quite at ease and did not realise that things were serious. The opening thi jugh which he plunged was caused when a tail section commenced to break off. “Just then the explosion occurred which must have killed those in the cabin,” he said. Mr, Worst was more seriously injured than first He was admitted to hospital suffering from extensive burns and abrasions. Among the ; killed was Mr. Dewitt Greer, communications superintendent of Pan American Airways. Aviation officials have arrived from Dublin and London to investigate the cause of the crash. A Lockheed Aircraft Corporation official said the Constellation had its undercarriage torn away when the plane hit a 3ft. wall near the airport. The plane carried straight on for 100 yards, touched the ground with its belly and then the outside port motor dropped out. The petrol tanks opened up and caught fire. The aircraft skidded a further 250 yards, the petrol tanks exploded and the aircraft was enveloped in flames. Among the passengers was Sir Homi Mehta, aged 77, a millionaire Bombay banker and millowner.