CRASH IN CHANNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22259, 11 May 1934, Page 9

CRASH IN CHANNEL

FRENCH AIR LINER LOSS OF LIFE FEARED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 9. A French air liner crashed in the Channel. It is feared that the three, passengers and the three members of the crew were drowned. A sister liner from Croydon, after a search of four hours, discovered the wreckage 12 miles south-east of Dungeness. There was no trace of survivors. The pilot sent out an S.O.S. at 12.22, three minutes after' obtaining his position, after which all was silent. Several aeroplanes and many boats participated in the search. It is believed that the only Englishman on board was the steward (Murphy), who was married, with two young children. It was pilot Cenet's first flight in this type of machine, one of whose three 350 horse-power engines should have been able to maintain the flight in the event of the disablement of the others. AN EARLIER MESSAGE. LINER REPORTED MISSING. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 9. A French air liner belonging to Air France, which left Le Eourget this morning for Croydon with three passengers and a crew of three aboard, js missing. She was talking to Croydon by wireless after crossing the French coast at 12.10 p.m., when the signals suddenly ceased. An aeroplane from Croydon and French planes were despatched to search for the missing monoplane, and naval vessels in the Channel have been warned to keep a look-out. The conditions are unfavourable, with a sea running and fog descending rapidly. DISASTER CAUSED BY' FOG. ' LONDON, May 10. (Received May 10, at 10 p.m.) The Daily Express reports that its searching aeroplane located a patch of oil of about one hundred square yards and floating remnants of fabric and wood. The report that a lifeboat was towing the wreckage of the air liner was incorrect. The News-Chronicle says fog is believed to have caused the disaster, the pilot trying to seek visibility at a lower altitude and the machine striking the waves. ■ ,