LOST AIR LINER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12750, 4 January 1936, Page 5

LOST AIR LINER

SURVIVOR'S THRILLING STORY SAVAM FOR 3HYE HOURS /U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). LONDON, Jan. 2. A message from Alexandria states that all the engines of the City of Khartoum, the Imperial Airways’ ’plane which crashed into the sea off Alexandria, have been recovered. Salvaging was suspended owing to high seas.

The pilot and sole survivor, Mr. A’. G. Wilson, told a thrilling story of a five-hour swim before he was rescued. The first engineer, Mr. Amor, and two passengers, whose identity Air. Wilson did not know, got clear of the plane and struck out for the shore when it appeared hopeless that the others had survived. The four remained together for some time and then separated in the darkness. Mr. Wilson did not. see the others again. He swam round until he reached a buoy, on which he was able to keep a grip. After that he reached the harbour wall, but h‘is attempt to climb it failed, and he was dashed unconscious. When he felt that he would be unable' to hold out any longer, he saw the lights of the destroyer Brilliant, which heard his cries for help-

EXPERTS PUZZLED CAUSE OF LONG FLIGHT Aeronautical experts are wondering why the City of Khartoum w** 320 minutes 'in the air when the journey from Mirabella should normally ’have taken 210 minutes. It was not known how much fuel the plane carried when it loft Mirabella, and tlie exceptionally long journey may have exhausted the petrol supply, this possibly ' ‘explaining ' the simultaneous failure of all three engines-

The Daily Express points out- that Mr. Wilson’s report should shed considerable- light oil air disasters, as there has been, no similar case of the pilot surviving the total destruction of 'a plane with tbe loss of the passengers and crew.

A Brisbane message reports that Queensland aviators who are acquainted with Mr.. Wilson describe him ns a very powerful swimmer.

RECOVERY OF ROUTES'. WEATHER DELAYS TASK. fU.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 2It was intended that divers should endeavour to recover the bodies of the victims of disaster to the City of Khartoum, the Imperial Airways’ plan? which crashed in the sea off Alexandria, and also the mail, but the'weatlier has rendered the salvage of the hull impossible. It is not certain which bodies are aboard.