§ 43. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the crash of the British European Airways Vanguard aircraft in Belgium.
§ Mr. NobleThe B.E.A. Vanguard which crashed in Belgium on 2nd October was making a scheduled flight from Heathrow Airport to Salzburg. Shortly after crossing the Belgian coast, in good weather conditions, the crew put out a Mayday call and said "We are going down". The aircraft descended out of control and struck the ground partially inverted. It disintegrated completely on impact and all the occupants, 55 passengers and eight crew members, were killed instantly.
The Belgian authorities have set up a technical commission of inquiry, which includes members of the Accidents Investigation Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry. Experts from British European Airways and the aircraft manufacturers are assisting the commission. Examination of the rear pressure bulkhead has shown that there was corrosion below a position where the flying control mechanism passes through a pressure 25W seal. The possibility that the bulkhead ruptured at this point, with consequent disruption of the flying controls causing the aircraft to go out of control, is being vigorously pursued. The flight recorder was recovered and played back within 24 hours of the accident but the recording terminated while the aircraft was in normal cruising flight at 19,000 feet.
The investigation is continuing with a high degree of co-operation between all the parties concerned.
I know the House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathy with those who have been bereaved in this disaster, and I would like to acknowledge particularly the work of the young people in the Belgian Red Cross at the accident site.