§ 37. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to make a statement in regard to the fatal accident which occurred to a Stratocruiser aircraft at Prestwick Airport on Christmas morning, which resulted in the loss of 28 lives.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir. A B.O.A.C. Stratocruiser, on a flight from London to New York, crashed on landing at Prestwick on the morning of 25th December, 1954. Of the 25 passengers and crew of 11, 24 passengers and four crew members were killed and one passenger and seven crew injured. I have decided that a public inquiry should be held in Scotland into the accident and the Lord President of the Court of Session has appointed Mr. C. W. Guest, Q.C. as Commissioner. I am sure the House will join me in expressing our deepest sympathy with the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives and with those injured in this tragic accident.
§ Sir T. MooreI thank my right hon. Friend for the welcome action which he has taken and for his offer of sympathy. He will appreciate, I hope, that that sympathy is deeply shared in Ayrshire, especially among the workers and management at the airport itself.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am sure that that is so.