§ Sir E. Errington (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the accident to the Hermes aircraft at Black-bushe Airport on 5th November, 1956.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Nigel Birch)A Hermes of the Britavia Company, bringing civilians from Idris, crashed during the final approach to Blackbushe Airport shortly before midnight on 5th November. The aircraft was carrying 74 passengers and a crew of six. Of the passengers 50 were Army family members, 23 Royal Air Force family members and one was a civilian Government employee. The families included children and six infants in arms.
Visibility was poor. The aircraft undershot the runway and caught fire. The casualties are three members of the crew and four passengers killed and one passenger seriously injured. Other passengers suffered shock and bruises.
My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation has decided that a public inquiry shall be held.
The House will wish to join with me in expressing sympathy with the relatives of those who have lost their lives, and with the injured.
§ Mr. StokesMay I, on behalf of my right hon. and hon. Friends, join the Minister in his expression of regret to the relatives of the persons who have lost their lives in this disaster? May we express the hope that the inquiry will start as soon as possible? We are very glad to hear that it is to be a public one.