What happened
The incident occurred during a night flight departing from RAF Conington in Cambridgeshire. The aircraft was en route to Naples, Italy, transporting a crew of six and nineteen female passengers who were members of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service returning from leave in the United Kingdom.
While cruising along the eastern coast of Corsica, the crew reported engine difficulties to ground control. Consequently, they decided to divert to Marseille Airport. Shortly after this decision, the aircraft is believed to have lost control and crashed into the sea approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Bastia.
Search and rescue operations were initiated immediately but were suspended a few days later when no trace of the wreckage or any of the 26 occupants could be located.
Findings
Official investigations identified engine problems as the primary contributing factor leading to the diversion and subsequent loss of control.