On a seemingly ordinary afternoon, Jessie Farrugia, then only 13 years old, was at her home in Rabat when a tragic event unfolded just around the corner from her residence. Now at the age of 93, Farrugia recalls the harrowing details of that day, April 5, 1946, when a Royal Air Force training exercise took a catastrophic turn. As she sat by her window, engaged in sewing, the sudden roar of an aircraft broke the usual tranquility, signaling impending disaster.
The Vickers Wellington bomber, during its training mission, plunged into St Publius Street, resulting in the loss of 20 lives, including four crew members and 16 local residents. This incident marked one of the gravest air tragedies in Malta’s post-war history. Eight decades later, Farrugia remains one of the few living witnesses to this heart-wrenching event. Recently, she participated in a small gathering to commemorate the anniversary, sharing her memories that remain vivid and haunting.
Farrugia vividly remembers her father, who had just returned from the dockyards, and her mother, seven months pregnant, busy in the kitchen at the time of the crash. The sound of the aircraft’s engine grew increasingly alarming, prompting her to venture outside, only to hesitate at the door as the plane crashed. The impact sent a deafening noise through the air, and a dark cloud billowed upwards, marking the scene of devastation. Her mother’s frantic voice echoed through their home, warning her not to step outside.
In the aftermath, chaos ensued as neighbors rushed to the scene, some shouting for help while others tried to rescue those trapped beneath the debris. Among the victims were local figures such as police constable Pietru Mifsud and his wife Marija, whose lives were cut tragically short. Similarly, the Galea family faced insurmountable loss when Sunta Galea was found shielding her two young daughters, Marija and Maddalena, in their beds; none survived the crash. The emotional toll was immense, with entire families devastated by the catastrophe.
Farrugia also spoke of the Bugeja family, specifically the harrowing fate of Marija Bugeja, who discovered her parents engulfed in flames. In a desperate attempt to save them, Marija ran for water but tragically lost her parents that day. Despite her efforts, she succumbed to her injuries 15 days later, leaving behind a community in mourning. The tragedy extended far beyond individual losses, impacting the very fabric of Rabat as families were torn apart.
The list of victims included not only parents but also young children, such as Vincenza, aged two and a half, and her 11-month-old brother Ġużeppi. Investigations into the crash were launched, yet the precise cause remained indeterminate. Some witnesses reported seeing smoke and flames before the aircraft's descent, but these accounts were not universally corroborated. Magistrate Albert Camilleri suggested that the crew may have been incapacitated due to fumes from a hydraulic fluid leak, as no distress signals were recorded and no efforts were made to avert the impending disaster.
As reported by timesofmalta.com.
