HC Deb 20 February 1956 vol 549 cc32-3
Mr. de Freitas (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make a statement about the aeroplane crash in Malta, causing the death of 45 airmen.

The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Nigel Birch)

On Saturday afternoon a York aircraft, operated by Scottish Air Lines, crashed shortly after take-off from Luqa airfield, in Malta. The aircraft was engaged on a troop-carrying flight from the Canal Zone. The civilian crew of five, and the 44 airmen and one soldier flying as passengers were killed.

A preliminary investigation is already in progress. Two senior officers from the Accidents Investigation Branch of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation have flown to Malta to assist. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies is recommending to the Governor of Malta that the inquiry should be held in public.

I am sure that the House will wish to join with me in expressing sympathy with the relatives of those who have lost their lives.

Mr. de Freitas

My right hon. and hon. Friends join with the Secretary of State in those expressions of sympathy. May I ask him how many aircraft similar to this York are still used for trooping, and whether he will make another statement as soon as he has anything to report?

Mr. Birch

I cannot give the exact figure. There are a certain number but not a very large number of other Yorks engaged on trooping. I will certainly make a further statement as soon as I can.

Air Commodore Harvey

Will my right hon. Friend say whether it is the intention to use York aircraft pending the result of the inquiry? Secondly, will he bear in mind that it is generally recognised among the technical people that York aircraft, fully laden, will not fly satisfactorily on three engines when taking off?

Mr. Birch

The record of the York has been well up to the records of the other aircraft. In the last two years, up to the last crash, 100,000 passengers have been carried and only one has been injured, and that injury was due to a pilot's error.

Mr. Beswick

While, on this particular route, this aircraft is a safe aircraft, apart from the weight consideration, is it not nevertheless a fact that other and more up-to-date machines are available? Can the Secretary of State say why they are not used for this kind of operation?

Mr. Birch

I think the general principle is that the most up-to-date aircraft available is used, but, unfortunately, it is not only old aircraft which have accidents.

Mr. Beswick

Is it not a fact that other and more modern aircraft were available but that they were not chosen because this particular contractor offered a cheaper price?

Mr. Birch

This machine was doing a double task of carrying freight as well as passengers. It had freight on one side. It was the only aircraft available which could do the task.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

Is the Secretary of State aware that there appears to have been some delay in sending telegrams to the next-of-kin of some of the airmen killed in this crash? Is he aware that the parents of some of these airmen are my constituents and that they first read about this tragic affair in their Sunday newspapers? Will he look into that?

Mr. Birch

I have not heard of that, but I will certainly look into it.

Mr. de Freitas

When the Secretary of State makes a further statement will he please try to deal with the points which have been raised on the Floor of the House this afternoon?

Mr. Birch

Most certainly I will.