What happened
The incident involved a twin-engine military aircraft that had completed a reconnaissance mission over the North Sea. While en route back to its base at Detling, the flight encountered poor visibility conditions caused by fog. During this phase of the return journey, the aircraft experienced a total loss of fuel reserves. With no suitable runway available due to the weather and lack of power, the pilot initiated an emergency ditching procedure in the waters off Seasalter, located in northern Kent.
All four members of the crew were successfully rescued from the water. Following the ditching attempt, the aircraft sank and was subsequently declared lost. The crew consisted of a pilot, a copilot, and two aircrewmen who survived the incident.