Dakota aircraft crashes after takeoff from Barcelona, 29 students aboard. A Transair twin-engine Dakota airliner carrying 29 students, 24 of them British, five of them Spanish, plus a British crew of three, crashed after takeoff from Barcelona today (Wednesday), bound for Gatwick airport. This photo taken from files, 1947 February, shows to cater aircraft in flight. The Dakota was chartered by the National Union of Students, flew from Gatwick this morning to Barcelona, carrying students. Another party students were expected on the return flight. A Ministry of Transport spokesman stated in London that a report of a Transair Dakota, which crashed in the Mantheny Mountains after taking off from Barcelona had been received. 19 August 1959