Flight and Disaster
Gerry Bull, a former BOAC engineer, said that when he inspected the aircraft in Rome he looked for "incidental damage." He did not find any, so he believed Flight 781 was fit for flight. Bull and the same team of engineers later examined South African Airways Flight 201 before its final flight.
On 10 January 1954, the flight took off at 09:34 GMT for the final-stage flight to London. 31-year-old Alan Gibson, who served as the captain, was one of the youngest pilots at BOAC.
At about 09:50 GMT a passing BOAC Argonaut G-ALHJ piloted by Captain Johnson, was in contact with Captain Gibson. During a radio communication about weather conditions, the conversation was abruptly cut off. The last words heard from Captain Gibson were "George How Jig, did you get my..". About this time wreckage was seen falling into the sea by fishermen.
Heathrow Airport initially listed Flight 781 as being delayed; around 1:30 PM the airport took the flight off the arrivals board.
Read more about this topic: BOAC Flight 781
Famous quotes containing the words flight and/or disaster:
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—Willard Van Orman Quine (b. 1908)
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Mother,
She died feeling responsible for a disaster unverified,
Murmuring, in her sleep as it seemed, the ancient slogan
Noblesse oblige.”
—Josephine Miles (1911–1985)