What happened
The aircraft was conducting a search and rescue mission to locate an Italian pilot who had gone missing the previous day. While flying in the waters north of the Tunisian coast, the plane was engaged and shot down by a British fighter. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into the sea near La Galite Island.
Despite the destruction of the airframe, all five crew members managed to escape the wreckage. They took refuge in a dinghy and endured three days at sea before finally reaching Tunisian shores. The aircraft sank completely and was subsequently lost.
Findings
Official records indicate that the loss of the aircraft resulted from enemy action. The primary cause of the accident was identified as the plane being shot down by a British fighter during its operational flight.