24th August 1934
Plane is washed into the sea during Jersey take-off
Before the current airport was built, planes serving Jersey landed and took off from the beaches. Thus, seven passengers on a Jersey Airways plane heading for Heston Aerodrome in London were saved by bathers when the aircraft was caught by the rising tide at West Park Beach.
When a particularly ferocious wave swept across one of the wings, it caused the engine to fail. Thus, with nothing to counterbalance it, the other engine swung the plane around, and powered it straight into the sea.
Fortunately, nobody was hurt on this occasion, but several passengers had to be carried ashore. A second aviation incident the very next day had a rather more serious outcome.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in August
Explorer Major General Edward Thompson Dickson dies
- St Helier-born Edward Dickson saw much of the world at a time when travel was a far more arduous process than it is today.
- Read more…
Parliament commends Jersey’s wartime conduct
- The British home secretary declared that the Channel Islands should be proud of themselves following the Occupation.
- Read more…
Boys are hit by a plane on Jersey beach
- Two boys were sitting on a wall at Jersey's West Park Beach when they were hit by a plane as it taxied to take off.
- Read more…
The telephone line between Jersey and the mainland is inaugurated
- Jersey's phones were connected by a direct line to the mainland in August 1939 via a coaxial cable that landed near Dartmouth.
- Read more…