What happened
During a special transport mission from Blackbushe to Fāyid AFB in Egypt via Malta, an aircraft operating under the military registration WZ839 experienced a major mechanical failure. The flight was transporting 68 British soldiers and eight crew members to Egypt to provide assistance following the coup by General Nasser. While positioned south of Paris, the number four engine suffered an explosion.
The resulting damage caused propeller blades to separate from the engine and strike the third engine. In response to the emergency, the pilot-in-command lowered the aircraft's altitude and initiated a diversion toward Pithiviers aerodrome for an unplanned landing. The Avro York (G-ALDB) successfully reached a grassy runway; however, the aircraft caught fire upon coming to a halt.
Despite the intense flames that partially destroyed the airframe, all 76 occupants managed to evacuate the cabin without loss of life. Reports indicated that some passengers and crew sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process.
Findings
Investigations into the incident focused on the catastrophic failure of the fourth engine. While investigators could not reach a definitive conclusion regarding the initial explosion, it was determined that the failure of several internal components, including the reduction gear pinion bearing, led to the disintegration of the engine and the subsequent detachment of the propeller.