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Aircraft Crashes into Sea off Kuwait Coast, All Six Occupants Killed (VM309)

Kuwait City, KuwaitFlight

On January 18, 1955, an Avro 652 Anson (registration VM309) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Kuwait City, Kuwait in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into the sea off the Kuwait coast while cruising. All six occupants were killed, and only a few debris were recovered. The cause could not be determined.

Accident

A twin-engine aircraft, while cruising off the coast of Kuwait, went out of control and crashed into the sea a few kilometers from shore. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft, with only a few pieces of debris recovered. All six individuals on board were killed.

Occupants

The crew consisted of Group Captain H. J. Irens as pilot and Sergeant Radley as signaler. The passengers were Group Captain A. M. Aberdein, Wing Commander M. Dean, Squadron Leader R. H. Stevenson, and Flight Lieutenant Cranley.

Investigation

An investigation was conducted into the accident. However, due to a lack of evidence, the official finding stated that the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Probable cause

Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Jan 1955 Avro 652 Anson accident near Kuwait City, Kuwait?

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into the sea off the Kuwait coast while cruising. All six occupants were killed, and only a few debris were recovered. The cause could not be determined.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Jan 1955 Avro 652 Anson accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Jan 1955 involved an Avro 652 Anson, registration VM309, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, at Kuwait City, Kuwait.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

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