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1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash

From Alfawiki
Avro Vulcan XM645
Company typeMilitary aircraft
IndustryAviation
FoundedMarch 1964
FateCrashed on 14 October 1975
Headquarters
RAF Waddington (origin), RAF Luqa (destination)
,
United Kingdom / Malta
ProductsAvro Vulcan B.2 bomber


Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence

The 1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan accident was a military aviation disaster that took place in Malta on 14 October 1975, when an Avro Vulcan B.2 bomber crashed following an unsuccessful landing attempt at RAF Luqa. The bomber impacted a residential district in Żabbar, resulting in the deaths of five crew members and one civilian on the ground. Both pilots successfully ejected and survived the crash. The incident caused significant destruction to numerous buildings within Żabbar.

Pilot error was identified as the principal factor behind the crash following an official inquiry.

Background

The aircraft designated XM645 was an Avro Vulcan B.2 bomber, completed in March 1964.[1]

On the day of the accident, 14 October 1975, the plane was en route from RAF Waddington in England to RAF Luqa in Malta.[2] Flight Lieutenant G. R. Alcock served as the pilot, with Flying Officer E. G. Alexander as co-pilot, accompanied by five additional crew members.[2] During the final approach, Alcock allowed Alexander to handle the controls; however, Alexander had not been sufficiently briefed on the challenges posed by landing on Luqa’s short and sloped runway.[2]

Accident

File:Sudika Zabbar Triq Is-Santwarju.jpg
Sanctuary Street in Żabbar, where wreckage fell

While under Alexander’s control, the aircraft landed heavily at Luqa and fell short of the runway threshold, causing its landing gear to be torn off.[3] An eyewitness reported that the plane briefly became airborne again and touched down approximately 600 feet (180 m) beyond its initial touchdown point.[2] At this stage, Alcock resumed command and elected to climb once more to attempt another landing.[2]

A fire erupted in the starboard wing after a fuel tank was ruptured during the initial impact.[3] Before reaching the airfield again, the crew realized a safe landing was no longer possible; consequently, both pilot and co-pilot ejected.[2] The aircraft subsequently exploded mid-flight, killing the remaining five crew members who were unable to escape via the crew door.[2]

Fragments of the plane, including fuel tanks, fell onto Żabbar’s main street and ignited upon impact. Additional debris struck a local school and other parts of town. The crash inflicted extensive damage on over one hundred homes and businesses, as well as some vehicles. A pedestrian named Vincenza Zammit lost her life while walking in the street; approximately twenty others sustained injuries of varying severity.[2][4][5]

Fire crews required several hours to extinguish all fires resulting from the crash.[2]

Aftermath

File:Waqgħa tal-ajruplan Vulkan 20210501 133629.jpg
A plaque in Żabbar featuring a Maltese inscription stating: "To thank God and Our Lady of Graces for sparing us from greater devastation in the plane crash (Vulcan) on 14 October 1975, the people of Żabbar erected this enduring memorial."

Following the accident, an investigation was conducted which determined that the crash was "an avoidable incident involving a serviceable aircraft flown into terrain, resulting in the deaths of all rear crew members."[3] The inquiry faulted Captain Alcock for permitting co-pilot Alexander to execute the final approach without providing sufficient briefing and deemed his management of the aircraft negligent.[3]

One of the residences that suffered extensive damage was reconstructed at the RAF’s cost and subsequently renamed Vulcan.[2]

Since the crash occurred within a residential neighborhood causing significant destruction, the number of casualties on the ground could have been far higher.[2] This outcome was regarded by some as a miracle.[2] Indeed, on 25 October 1975, shortly after the accident, a procession carrying the statue of Our Lady of Graces was held to express gratitude to God and His Mother for protecting the community from what might have been a far graver catastrophe.[5]

The Żabbar Sanctuary Museum hosts a modest display dedicated to this incident.[5][6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named times2005-10-17
  4. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1975 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Malta

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