On 11 January 1954, "The New York Times" reported that "35 persons were almost certainly killed when a British Comet jet airliner crashed into the sea ... between the islands of Elba and Montecristo, off the Italian western coast." Bodies had been recovered late into the night, and although the search had continued in the freezing water, there was little hope of finding any survivors. The official passenger list was yet to be released, but it was believed that there were no Americans on board the plane.