- Title: HONG KONG: 58 U.S. SERVICEMEN DIE IN PLANE CRASH
- Date: 25th August 1965
- Summary: ONLOOKERS ON SHORE WATCHING CRANES LIFT PLANE - PLANE BEING LIFTED - BODIES ON SHORE UNDER COVERS - BODIES LOADED ONTO LORRY - PLANE BEING LIFTED. Initials DS/S/WH/EEH/JG Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th September 1965 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: YAUTONG BAY, HONG KONG
- Country: Hong Kong
- Reuters ID: LVAAG1Z5F39LZ77P6979H0Z1BKIG
- Story Text: UNITED STATES MILITARY EXPERTS FROM JAPAN AND SOUTH VIETNAM HAVE BEGUN AN INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION INTO YESTERDAY'S (TUESDAY'S) CRASH OF A U.S. TRANSPORT PLANE AT HONG KONG. THIRTEEN OF THE 65 MEN AND CREW OF SIX ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT SURVIVED THE PLUNGE INTO YAUTONG BAY SHORTLY AFTER THE C--130 HERCULES TOOK OFF FOR SOUTH VIETNAM.
THE INQUIRY IS BEING CARRIED ON AT TWO LEVELS. AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD SOUGHT FACTS TO HELP THE U.S. FORCES IN THEIR SAFETY PROGRAMME, AND AN INFORMAL BOARD STARTED A GENERAL INQUIRY. BOTH HAVE SAID THAT THEIR FINDINGS WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC.
THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM KAI TAK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHEN IT CRASHED. ACCORDING TO EYE-WITNESSES THE PLANE BURST INTO FLAMES AS IT HIT THE WATER, NARROWLY MISSING BUILDINGS IN THE INDUSTRIAL TOWNSHIP OF KWUN TONG.
RESCUE CRAFT -- SOME OF THEM SAMPANS ROWED OUT TO THE SCENE BY CHINESE WORKERS FROM A PROJECT NEARBY -- PICKED UP THIRTEEN SURVIVORS. LATER, DIVERS FROM THE ROYAL NAVY WENT DOWN AND CUT THEIR WAY INTO THE FUSELAGE, BUT FOUND ONLY CHARRED BODIES. THE PLANE WAS AFTERWARDS RAISED FROM THE BAY BY TWO CRANES.
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