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.