On This Day: Prince Gustaf Adolf Killed In Plane Crash

Seventy years ago today, Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten was killed when the plane he was flying on crashed immediately after take off from Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport.

The Douglas DC-3C plane of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines fleet had stopped in Copenhagen on route to Stockholm from the Netherlands, where the Prince had been on a hunting trip hosted by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. After taking off, the plane reached an altitude of about 150ft before stalling. It plummeted to the ground, killing all passengers and crew on board. The ensuing investigation found the cause of the accident was the tail fin gust lock not being removed before take off (gust locks keep wind from causing damage to aircraft control surfaces when they are parked).

The Prince’s remains were transported back to Sweden aboard the warship Oscar II, accompanied by his only sister, the Crown Princess of Denmark, and younger brother Sigvard. His funeral was held on February 4, at the Storkrykan. He is buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Haga.

Prince Gustaf Adolf was second in line to the throne at the time of his death, behind his father Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf. He was survived by his wife, Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, four daughters and a son, the current King Carl XVI Gustaf. The infant prince – who moved up one position in the succession – was only nine months old.

At the time of his death, Gustaf Adolf was only 40 years old.

Filed under Historical Royals, Sweden
Tagged Anniversary, Death, Prince Gustaf Adolf Duke of Västerbotten.