Widow recalls Vulcan crash over Zabbar, 40 years on

The widow of an avionics officer who died when a RAF Vulcan bomber crashed over Zabbar 40 years ago this month has spoken of what she's been through, while saying the crash could have been avoided.

The big delta-wing aircraft exploded and crashed near Zabbar's main street after aborting a bad landing which damaged the aircraft on October 14, 1975.

The pilot and co-pilot parachuted to safety but five airmen who had no parachutes died in the crash. A Maltese woman, Vincenza Zammit, 48, died in the blaze in Sanctuary Street just outside her home.

Among the victims was avionics officer Squadron Leader David Beeden, 38.

The Lincolnshire Echo said that his widow Patricia, now 71, still wonders about all that happened on that day.

"People say time heals, but it doesn't really," she said.

"My husband cannot come back to me but I'm still curious to know more about what happened to him. What went through their minds? Did David suffer? I hope they were knocked unconscious and they didn't know."

Times of Malta had reported at the time that part of the aircraft containing the fuel tanks exploded on impact with the ground "sending a searing wall of flame, two storeys high, down the street away from the parish church."

Over 100 houses and shops suffered considerable damage.

The crash sent people into panic. "Women, some weeping, others screaming, left their houses and ran as fast as they could, away from the wreckage."

"David was a lovely chap," said Mrs Beeden, a former RAF nurse.

"He'd been in the RAF for 20 years and had risen through the ranks to sergeant before becoming an officer.

"I was given the death certificate, which simply said multiple injuries and incineration. I never got to see a body, but of course there was nothing like that.

"I felt the attitude from the RAF at the time was: he's gone, get on with your life, so I did. I think families are much better looked after by the RAF these days."

Bringing up their son Michael alone, caring for her sick mother and following her nursing career meant she did not have the chance to greatly reflect on her loss. But Mrs Beeden said that in the early 1980s she did learn from the UK Ministry of Defence that her husband had sent a Mayday message by Morse code.

"I don't know at what point during the flight this was made or why it was made," she said.

Then in December 1996 – 21 years after the accident – the RAF wrote to her saying that a summary of the aircraft accident report was available if she wished, but that it "might be upsetting to you".

Mrs Beeden never requested the information.

"So many things were going on in my life and I got to the point when I thought I had to let it go," she told the newspaper.

The official board of inquiry investigation found that the Vulcan's crew was poorly briefed about the complexities of landing on the short, 'sloped' runway at Luqa and didn't recognise the sharp rate of descent until it was too late.

"I think the crash was avoidable," said Mrs Beeden, reflecting on events at her home. It's sad. I'm sorry it happened. There's nothing you can do about it. As a Roman Catholic I have had a lot of faith, so that helps."