What happened
On the morning of the incident, the aircraft departed Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém at 0730 local time. The flight was a regular scheduled service bound for RAF Whitchurch in Bristol. While cruising over the Bay of Biscay, the plane was intercepted by eight German Junkers JU.88 fighters. The aircraft sustained damage from the attack and entered an uncontrolled descent. It subsequently crashed into the sea approximately 350 km north of La Coruna, Spain. All 17 people on board were killed.
The crew consisted of two pilots, a radio operator, and a flight engineer. The passenger manifest included various individuals traveling on this route during the Second World War. Historical context indicates that the Lisbon-Bristol corridor was frequently used to transport agents and escaped prisoners of war to Britain, with both Allied and Axis personnel operating from the same facilities in Lisbon.
Findings
Official findings state that the aircraft was shot down by German fighters. Various theories suggest the attack may have been motivated by a mistaken belief that high-profile British figures were aboard or that specific passengers were intelligence assets. However, the confirmed fact remains that the plane was targeted and destroyed by enemy combat aircraft during its cruise phase.