What happened
In the early morning hours, a floatplane departed from RAF Pembroke Dock to conduct a maritime patrol over the Bay of Biscay. During the takeoff phase from Milford Haven, the aircraft encountered a hazard in the water. It collided with a partially submerged obstacle, causing the plane to crash into the sea in the area between Milford Haven and Popton Fort.
The impact resulted in the loss of all personnel on board. All nine crew members were killed in the accident. The flight was operating under standard maritime patrol protocols when the incident occurred during the critical takeoff window.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the primary factor leading to the disaster was the aircraft's interaction with an underwater hazard. The collision with a submerged obstacle while taking off at night was identified as the direct cause of the crash.