CAUSE UNKNOWN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 January 1935, Page 5

CAUSE UNKNOWN

Investigation into Crash of Dutch Air Liner LIGHTNING THEORY DISPROVED PLANE IN GOOD CONDITION (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 2 p.m to-dav. THE HAGUE, Jan. 4. NT. Plesman. manager of the Dutch Airline, returned by air with the commissioners who inquired into the disaster of the “Flying Hotel.” He says though the first medical examination of the victims, .suggested that lightning caused the deaths, the commissioners now reported that the victims were killed in the crash, in which their neck." were broken. The cause of the accident was still unknown. The machine was in good flying condition and there, were.no.engine defects or constructional faults. The plane, after landing in the desert, when flying at 150 miles an hour, traversed ICO yards, then overturned. The Commissioners report that the aeroplane must have struck the ground, risen again and crashed a hundred yards further on, where it was destroyed. The victims were killed after the crash, the fall breaking their necks. A cable from Cairo dated December | 21, stated that -seven persons were killed when the K.L.M. Douglas airliner which was piloted by Messrs. K. Y. Parmentier and J. J. Moll iff the centenary air race and finished second, in attempting a record delivery of Christmas mails to Batavia and back to Amsterdam in five days, crashed near a spot ten miles south of Ruthbah 'Wells. The ’plane was burned to cinders. The crew of the missing liner consisted of Commander Bookman, Mr Steenbergen, second officer, Mr H. Waslewyn, mechanic, and Mr C. Vanzadefhoff, wireless officer. The machine carried three passengers, Mr D. Berretty, Dr. D. Kort and Professor Waller, all of whom are Dutchn cn.