AIR LINER CRASH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 67, 15 February 1935, Page 7

AIR LINER CRASH

THE K.L.M. DISASTER. STORY OR MADMAN. DENIED BY GOVERNMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received February 15, 10.35 a.in. THE HAGUE, Feb. 14. The Department of Public Works emphatically denies stories emanating from the Netherlands Indies that a passenger who suddenly went mad and threatened the pilot with a revolver unless he landed immediately was responsible for the crash of the Dutch Iv.L.M. air liner, the “flying hotel,'' on Dccomber 21. It is pointed out that there were no survivors; thus it is impossible to say with certainly what caused the crash. ACCOUNT OF THE CRASH. REACTION ON BUILDING POLICY. WASHINGTON, Feb. 13. With the landing of the survivors from the airship Macon at San I raneisco vivid stories were told of the disaster, Commander Wiley’s account being most vivid, despite its terseness. He said a short jar was felt, and inquiry showed that the wheel had slipped out of the elevator man’s hand. The ship took a bow-up inclination and rose, despite every effort, such as dropping ballast and "emergency fuel from the after part. The ship continued to rise rapidly, then went right about face. The vessel began to drop from 4000 feet, descending at a rate of 300 feet a minute. Despite dropping all ballast and endeavouring to drop aeroplanes from the aeroplane hangar, the descent continued. The order to abandon ship was given at 1000 feet, and when the stern hit the water with a jar everyone was ordered ■ out of the control car before it was submerged. Everyone jumped and made for the rubber lifeboats. SOS signals were given some time before. Flares were also thrown out. A momentary danger arose when flares set fire to floating petrol, but this burnt out quickly. '1 he rescue was quick and efficient. President Roosevelt has announced that he will not recommend the expenditure of Federal funds on further lighter than air ships this time, although everyone should be careful not to overstate the importance of the disaster in its relations to future aircraft development. The President added that he did not think the temporary abandonment of dirigibles would injure the development of helium gas, since experiments promise many other uses for it.