What happened
During a night flight from Luqa to Northolt, a Valetta was cruising at 1,500 feet when it struck an RAF Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3, registered TX270. At the time of the impact, visibility was significantly reduced by heavy rainfall and nighttime conditions. The aircraft were traveling through an area characterized by low visibility.
Following the mid-air impact, both planes descended into the Mediterranean Sea. The wreckage was located approximately 46 km southwest of Agrigento. There were 16 passengers and three crew members aboard the Valetta, while the Lancaster also carried a crew. The accident resulted in 26 fatalities, leaving no survivors from either aircraft.
Findings
An official inquiry into the disaster determined that severe weather conditions played a significant role in the collision. The area was experiencing localized thunderstorms, which included heavy rain and hail. While investigations noted that the Malta Flight Information Centre lacked complete details regarding the mission of the Lancaster, this lack of information was not considered a contributing factor to the accident. No individual blame was assigned to any person involved.