Indian Air Liner Lost In Storm In The Mediterranean.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18901, 28 October 1929, Page 10

Indian Air Liner Lost In Storm In The Mediterranean.

BREAKS ADRIFT AFTER BEING TAKEN IN TOW, AND ITS FATE IS UNCERTAIN. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received October 28, 12 noon.) RUGBY, October 27. ONLY scanty information so far is available regarding the fate of the Imperial airways liner, lettered CAADN, homeward bound from India, which is missing. Reports from Leghorn last night stated that an English hydroplane came down in the sea near Spezia and signalled S.O.S. It is feared that this is the CAADN. Later reports stated that tugboats sighted the air liner and took her in tow, but the hawsers broke owing to the high seas and the air liner was lost sight of. Aeroplanes and torpedo boats sent out by the local naval command are reported to be searching for the air liner. The fate of her passengers is unknown. —British Official Wireless.

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES LOSS OF MACHINE.

(Received October 28, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. Imperial Airways officially announce the loss of the Indian flying-boat City of Rome during a gale in the Gulf of Genoa. Four of the passengers and three of the crew were drowned. A Genoa message says that it is learned that the tug Familia on Saturday evening found the Indian air liner safely riding the waves off Spezia. All was well aboard. The tug took the aeroplane in tow, but owing to the rough sea the rope broke. The Familia left the ’plane and rushed to the shore to get help. A destroyer went out and searched for hours fruitlessly. To-day seven Italian ’planes co-operated with a bomber and destroyers combing the seas, but there was no trace of the air liner, from which the wireless signals had ceased. The anxiety increased hourly. To-night a destroyer reported that she was coming ashore with the body of the commander of the air liner. There is no news of the rest of the crew and the passengers.