Nearly seven decades ago to this day, on February 18th, 1956, Malta witnessed its worst-ever aviation disaster - a tragic event that left 50 people dead and cast a long shadow over the island’s history.

It was 1.23 PM when the Scottish Airlines Avro York G-ANSY took off from Luqa Airport, bound for London Stansted. But just moments after becoming airborne, disaster struck. A mechanical failure in the No.1 engine caused it to catch fire. Instead of shutting down the failing propeller, the pilots attempted to turn back, leading to a fatal loss of speed and control. The aircraft stalled, nose-dived, and crashed into Nigret, Zurrieq.

The accident was a tragic mix of mechanical failure and human misjudgment. While the engine failure was a major factor, it was the loss of speed during the attempted return that ultimately caused the crash.

This heartbreaking event remains Malta’s deadliest aviation disaster, a stark reminder of the risks of early air travel. Today, 69 years later, we remember those who lost their lives that day.

Had you ever heard of this tragedy?