FLIER CRASHES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1930, Page 9

FLIER CRASHES

MISS JOHNSON NOT HURT PLANE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BRISBANE’S FINE "WELCOME THOUSANDS THRONG ROUTE By Telegraph—Frees Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10.30 p.m. Brisbane, May 29. At the end of her long flight from Charleville to-day Mira Amy Johnson cradled when landing near the Eagle Farm aerodrome, outside Brisbane at 2.18 p.m. She .attempted a landing in a cross-wind and alighted in a field of millet. Both wings crumpled up and the propeller was smashed, but the cockpit and undercarriage were undamaged. Miss Johnson, although excited, was unhurt. She was immediately surrounded by aerodrome officials who motored her to the hangar amid the wildest cheering. The crowd was equally as large as when Bert Hinkler arrived. Miss Johnson descended at Toowoomba en route co Brisbane, where 5000 people greeted her tumultuously. She was presented with a £lOO Australian note as a token of esteem, and with bouquets. It is estimated that 200,000 people lined the route from the aerodrome. to the <jity of Brisbane. ' Miss Johnson was driven through the dense cheering crowd by a girl motorist to the City Hall, where the Lord Mayor and other prominent people heartily greeted her. Her arms were laden with flowers.

The Governor, Sir John Goodwin, congratulated the heroine on her escape from injury when landing. • Miss Johnson’s reply was, ‘‘Oh, I’m all right, but my poor old plane is wrecked.” A bystander soon assured her that her plane Would quickly be repaired. An examination of the plane by Quantas aviation officials revealed that the damage is fairly serious, but the engine and fusilage'are intact. A staff of workmen immediately set about repairing the plane to enable Miss Johnson to • continue her southern itinerary, failing which a Quantas machine will be placed at her disposal. Miss Johnson is due in .Sydney next Wednesday. ENTHUSIASM AT CHARLEVILLE. FLIER BURSTS INTO TEARS. Brisbane, May 29. • Terrified by the mob that rushed her upon landing at Charleville, worn out by her day’s flight and dispirited by having lost her way, Miss Amy Johnson broke into tears when she reached her hotel last night. Sweeping the police and officials aside the crowd rushed her plane in a wild burst of enthusiasm, but Miss Johnson is afraid of one thing only, and that is a mob. She became hysterical and almost broke down on tho aeroplane. She was too upset even to speak to her parents by wireless telephone. DISMAY AT FLIER’S HOME. MESSAGE DISPELS ANXIETY. Rec. 11.10 p.m. ..... London, May 29. There was consternation and ’dismay in Amy Johnson’s home when her relatives were informed that she had crashed, but there was great relief when her people were informed that she was unhurt. Her father exclaimed: “Thank God she is safe!” But their anxiety was only completely dispelled by. a message from Amy.