1953 Mediterranean Sea mid-air collision

On 15 January 1953, a twin-engined Vickers Valetta transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force (RAF), serial number VX562, collided over the Mediterranean Sea with a four-engined RAF Avro Lancaster maritime patrol aircraft. All 26 people on board both aircraft were killed.

1953 Mediterranean Sea mid-air collision

Accident
Date	15 January 1953
Summary	Mid-air collision
Site	over the Strait of Sicily
Total fatalities	26
Total survivors	0
First aircraft
A Vickers Valetta similar to the accident aircraft
Type	Vickers Valetta C1
Operator	Royal Air Force
Registration	VX562
Flight origin	RAF Luqa
Passengers	16
Crew	3
Fatalities	19
Survivors	0
Second aircraft
An Avro Lancaster similar to the accident aircraft
Type	Avro Lancaster GR3
Operator	Royal Air Force
Registration	TX270
Crew	7
Fatalities	7
Survivors	0

Accident

The Valetta had departed RAF Luqa with 16 passengers (15 airmen and one Royal Navy (RN) sailor) on a return flight to the United Kingdom. Just before 05:00, the Valetta was between Pantelleria and Sicily when it collided with the Lancaster in poor visibility and heavy rain.

The Lancaster from No. 38 Squadron RAF was following HMS Gambia and other RN ships on an anti-submarine exercise. The seven crew on the Lancaster and all on board the Valetta were killed.

Rescue and aftermath

HMS Gambia and other ships were used to search the scene for survivors, but only wreckage was found. Later the destroyer HMS Chieftain was dispatched to search east of Pantelleria after a note case belonging to one of the Lancaster crew was found, without success. The only body recovered was that of Sgt Victor Ronald Chandler RAF (age 32) who was buried in Imtarfa Military Cemetery in Malta.

Investigation

The court of inquiry decided that the weather conditions at the time were a factor with localized thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail and no blame could be attached to any individual. Evidence did reveal that although the Malta Flight Information Centre was not in possession of full information on the Lancaster's sortie, it was not a contributory cause.