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24 September 2014

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You are in: Somerset > People > People > Basle aircrash tragedy

Roger Keen

Roger was 14 when his dad died.

Basle aircrash tragedy

In April 1973, the county of Somerset was in mourning. One hundred and eight people were killed after a day trip to Switzerland turned to tragedy.

The trip had started so full of excitement with friends, neighbours and even a skittles team coming together for the journey from Bristol airport. Most of the passengers were mums from the town of Axbridge and the villages of Cheddar, Congresbury and Yatton. But their plane was brought down in a blinding snow storm as it approached the city of Basle.

Roger Keen was just 14 years old when the crash happened. He remembers sitting in front of the television, avidly listening out for the names of the 37 passengers who had survived the crash. It was later confirmed that his father, Roy Keen, who had taken a last minute place on the trip, and his grandmother, Louisa Davis, were among the dead. They're commemorated in the churchyard in Cheddar.

Roger has spent the last two years fulfilling a childhood ambition to learn to fly. He wanted to finish the trip that his father and grandmother took 35 years ago, by flying a plane to Switzerland and visiting the memorial at the site of the crash. His journey has been followed by the regional current affairs series 'Inside Out West' on BBC One at 7.30pm on Friday April 11th.

last updated: 01/05/2008 at 15:05
created: 09/04/2008

Have Your Say

BBC Somerset would like to hear your memories from April 1973 and your tributes for the people who were lost on that terrible day. 

The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

Adrian Lane
I was 11 years old when the plane crashed. My mum was the most badly injured to survive. For 35 years we have grieved for all those that died. Mum paased away last year and is now with them. Our thoughts are with them, and our families.

Beverly Wood
My Mum, Hazel Lane of Cheddar, survived the aircrash but spent the following 9 weeks in hospital with horrific injuries. She was later to spend many more months in hospital undergoing about 10 operations but always had a smile for everyone and always said "I'm fine" whether she was or not! Sadly she died in April last year, but we were so blessed to have had her for a further 34 years after the crash.

David Baker
My mother was also killed in the crash . I was 8 years old and one of three children . To put it mildly it devastated the family and some members of the family never got over it . The aftermath was felt for years after .

Christine Selway (Duddridge)
Treasured memories of lost but not forgotten friends.x

Colin
I am not at all connected with this,just to say God bless you all.

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