No fatalities

Aircraft ditching off Elbe Island (I-BADE)

Elbe Island, ItalyFlight

On June 27, 1980, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration I-BADE) operated by Transavio was involved in an aviation accident near Elbe Island, Italy in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An unforeseen in-flight event necessitated an emergency water landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was forced to perform a water landing near Elbe Island following an unforeseen in-flight event, resulting in the loss of the plane but no fatalities.

What happened

During a flight near Elbe Island, the pilot encountered an unplanned and unexpected situation while in transit. In response to the developing circumstances, the decision was made to perform a ditching maneuver into the water.

Following the impact with the sea, all three occupants were successfully evacuated from the aircraft without injury. While the crew and passengers escaped safely, the aircraft subsequently sank beneath the surface and is considered lost.

Findings

The investigation indicates that the pilot's decision to ditch was prompted by an unexpected situation encountered during the flight phase.

Probable cause

An unforeseen in-flight event necessitated an emergency water landing.