After flying about seven miles north from the French coast, Latham was forced to ditch in the Channel after the engine in his Antoinette monoplane failed.

"So far from sinking, the flyer floated perfectly, although somewhat down by the head, and the intrepid pilot, so far from being inconvenienced by his extraordinary position, did not even get his feet wet, and during the interval which elapsed before his convoy, the destroyer "Harpon", could reach him, he calmly passed the time by smoking a cigarette."

Flight. 1909, p. 440.