De Havilland DH.106 Comet crash, Jan 10, 1954 (35 killed)
De Havilland DH.106 Comet accident on January 10, 1954 near Elba Island Tuscany, Italy with 35 fatalities. Cause: Metal fatigue in the fuselage caused...
- Date: January 10, 1954
- Aircraft: De Havilland DH.106 Comet
- Location: Elba Island Tuscany, Italy
- Fatalities: 35
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Metal fatigue in the fuselage caused an explosive decompression and mid air disintegration in flight.
BOAC Flight 781, a de Havilland Comet 1, left Rome-Ciampino and disintegrated in flight at about 27,000 feet over the Tyrrhenian Sea near Elba, about 20 minutes after takeoff. All 35 people on board were killed, and wreckage was recovered from the sea. The loss led to Comet services being suspended while the type was investigated.