AIR LINER IN PERIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20947, 10 August 1931, Page 9

AIR LINER IN PERIL

PILOT AVERTS DISASTER, DESCENT NEAR TONBRIDGE. FOUR PROPELLERS BROKEN. COOLNESS OF PASSENGER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, August 3. The air liner Hannibal while en route to Paris made a forced landing near Tonbridgo. A passenger says one propeller broke in mid-air and damaged two of the three others. Only one engine was running when the machine was skilfully manoeuvred in mist and rain. It just missed a farm house, knocked over a telegraph pole, and landed perfectly in a field. The 18 passengers were not hurt. They entered a relief machine at Lympne for Paris. The Hannibal, which is the largest commercial aeroplane in the world, narrowly escaped an appalling disaster. The passengers, who included Sir Henry Birkin, paid a tribute to the pilot, Captain F. Dismore, who was responsible for saving their lives. All the four propellers were broken when the machine landed. Sir Henry took command of the situation in the luxurious saloon when the Hannibal dived. He told the others to keep calm and to relax their bodies, in order to lessen the shock. Sir Henry Birkin, the third baronet, was born in 1896, and succeeded his father in the title oil April 8 last.