Incident Overview
While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain, a Vickers Valetta aircraft collided with a Royal Air Force Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3, registered TX270. The Valetta was en route from Luqa to Northolt, carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean Sea approximately 46 kilometers southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants from both aircraft were killed.
Investigation Findings
The court of inquiry determined that the weather conditions at the time were a factor, with localized thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail. No blame could be attached to any individual. Although evidence revealed that the Malta Flight Information Centre did not have full information on the Lancaster's sortie, this was not considered a contributory cause.