What happened
During a flight at 12,000 feet near the Isle of Man, the crew reported experiencing icing conditions and unusual vibrations to ground controllers. Following authorization to descend to 8,000 feet, the pilot transmitted a short message indicating that the aircraft was becoming uncontrollable. Shortly thereafter, the plane crashed into the Irish Sea, approximately 6 miles south of Barrow-in-Furness.
Search and rescue operations were launched immediately but faced significant challenges due to heavy snow, high winds, and rough sea states. Despite several days of intensive searching, no wreckage or remains were located, leading to the eventual suspension of the mission. The incident resulted in seven fatalities, as all crew members on board were lost.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to establish a definitive cause for the crash. However, investigators did not dismiss the possibility that heavy ice accumulation on the engines and critical flight surfaces led to the loss of control.