From the
Birmingham Daily Gazette, 9 October 1936:
A SCENE occurred at the inquest yesterday on the four victims of the Imperial Airways plane that crashed in flames at Wallington, Surrey, when Councillor H. A. Heath (of the Wallington Ratepayer's Association) asked if the plane was "air vicious."
Mr. A. R. Patterson (representing Imperial Airways), protesting, said that he did not wish to fight on such an occasion, but he objected to the question and allegations that had been made.
There was loud cries of "Hear, hear" in court.
I can't say whether the term was misheard and/or reported incorrectly. I have seen no other newspaper report on the inquest by reference to which I might judge whether this is a possibility.