What happened
The aircraft was engaged by hostile forces during its flight path. The seaplane sustained damage from enemy fire, which rendered it uncontrollable. Consequently, the plane descended into the ocean waters located off the coast of La Coruna.
The impact and subsequent sinking resulted in significant loss of life. Seven crew members were killed in the incident. Two other individuals on board managed to survive the initial crash but were subsequently captured by opposing forces and held as prisoners of war.
Findings
Official investigations confirmed that the primary cause of the accident was external aggression rather than mechanical failure or pilot error. The aircraft was destroyed specifically because it was targeted and hit by hostile weapons systems.