The pilot was unaware that the landing gear was not retracted, and as result the aircraft descended to touch down in the Shannon estuary.

[2] Mr. Tieman had swum ashore and floundered painfully across the marshes to the airport, whose lights were clearly visible from the scene of the crash.

It was not until 7 o'clock in the morning - 4+1⁄2 hours after the crash - that the first launch reached the survivors, who were huddled on a muddy flat in the river.

The official investigation concluded that the accident was caused by an unexpected re-extension of the landing gear and the captain's incorrect behaviour in this situation.

Viruly, who had been only one year from retirement, rejected the responsibility for the crash and was bitter about his subsequent treatment by KLM.