Incident Overview
An aircraft flying from Athens to Naples encountered a runaway propeller on one of its engines. In response, 15 passengers and the radio operator bailed out over Botricello, aiming to reach a nearby emergency field. However, they were unable to reach the field and landed in the area.
Landing and Aftermath
The pilots and the engineer executed a successful landing on the beach, bringing the aircraft down intact. The slanted beach caused the aircraft to veer into the surf, where it came to rest in approximately 10 feet of water. The crew escaped through the astrodome hatch and swam to shore. Overnight, the action of the tide destroyed the aircraft. Rumors that the aircraft was repaired, flown off the beach, and put back into service are unfounded.