§ 102. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement about the collision which occurred on 22nd October, 1958, between a Viscount aeroplane of British European Airways and an Italian fighter aeroplane near Anzio.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe Viscount was on a scheduled flight from London to Naples when it came into collision with the leader of a formation of four Italian military fighter aircraft. The collision occurred at a height of about 23,500 ft. and both aircraft disintegrated. The crew of 5 and the 26 passengers of the Viscount lost their lives and the pilot of the fighter was very seriously injured. The Italian Government immediately set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances and causes of the accident, and one of my Senior Inspectors of Accidents was appointed to act as the United Kingdom accredited representative 165W in accordance with international procedure. At the conclusion of the investigation I shall receive a copy of the report made by the Italian Board of Inquiry.