When the aircraft was 150 miles from Cape Finnisterre (Spain) they were attacked by a german JU-88. During the combat they were able to hit the Luftwaffe plane but were also hit and French and Larche were wounded.

The pilot decided to reach Portugal. All jumped with the parachutes while the aircraft kept flying into the sea where it crashed.

Five crewmembers were interned in Elvas and repatriated on July, 17. The two wounded were interned in military hospital in Oporto and on July 26 they were sent to the British Hospital in Lisbon. On the next Day they boarded the Sunderland G-AGES from BOAC to return home, but the aircraft crashed in Foynes, Ireland, causing some deaths and many injured between the crew and passengers.

French broke the right leg and suffered some injuries in the head. Larche suffered several wounds in the head. Both were interned in the Foynes Hospital and returned home in different times