What happened
At 1657 local time, a distress call was transmitted from an aircraft operating under the command of the 217th Squadron. Shortly after this communication, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances approximately four kilometers southeast of Penha Garcia, located near Castelo Branco. The impact resulted in fatal injuries for all individuals on board. There were four occupants in total: a pilot, a navigator, and two wireless operators. All four crew members lost their lives in the incident.
Findings
Investigations conducted by British authorities concluded that the crash was not due to mechanical failure or pilot error alone. The official determination states that the aircraft was probably shot down by enemy action. This assessment identifies hostile fire as the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the ground.