What happened
During a night flight through heavy rain and low visibility, a RAF Vickers 607 Valetta C.1, registered VX562, collided with another aircraft while traveling from Luqa to Northolt. The Valetta was transporting 16 passengers along with a crew of three at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet.
The impact occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, roughly 46 km southwest of Agrigento. Both the Valetta and the Lancaster bomber crashed into the water as a result of the collision. There were no survivors, as all 26 individuals on board both aircraft were killed in the accident.
At the time of the incident, the Lancaster crew was participating in an anti-submarine training exercise, flying in formation behind the HMS Gambia and several other vessels from the Royal Navy.
Findings
An official inquiry into the disaster determined that severe weather conditions, including localized thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail, played a significant role in the accident. The investigation concluded that no specific blame could be assigned to any individual crew member. While it was noted that the Malta Flight Information Centre lacked complete details regarding the Lancaster's specific mission, this lack of information was not considered a contributing factor to the collision.