Failed page loads sometimes redirect to about:blank instead of displaying errors

[jeremy-list]

To replicate:
1: Use Firefox with an unstable internet connection
2: Right-click a link and select "Open Link in New Tab" (the bug also occurs when navigating the current tab to a new page, but much less frequently)

Expected results:
The new tab should always contain one of the following:
1: The new page, to the extent it has loaded
2: An error message with a "retry" button

Actual results:
Sometimes instead of the error message: the tab will redirect to about:blank. This includes the address bar, so the only way to try again is to close the tab and try again from the initial page.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: firefox 53.0.3+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-45.48~16.04.1-generic 4.8.17
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-45-generic x86_64
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.6
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jeremy 1881 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20170524180630
Channel: Unavailable
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Thu Jun 15 14:15:15 2017
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
Extensions: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
ForcedLayersAccel: False
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
IncompatibleExtensions: Unavailable (corrupt or non-existant compatibility.ini or extensions.sqlite)
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-03-04 (102 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.1.1 dev wlp2s0 proto static metric 600
 169.254.0.0/16 dev virbr0 scope link metric 1000 linkdown
 192.168.1.0/24 dev wlp2s0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.6 metric 600
 192.168.122.0/24 dev virbr0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.122.1 linkdown
Locales: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
Plugins: Shockwave Flash - /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so
PrefSources: prefs.js
Profiles: Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=53.0.3/20170524180630 (In use)
RunningIncompatibleAddons: False
SourcePackage: firefox
Themes: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/07/2017
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 3JCN26WW
dmi.board.asset.tag: NO Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: VIUU4
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: SDK0K17763 WIN
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: NO Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Lenovo ideapad 310-15IKB
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr3JCN26WW:bd03/07/2017:svnLENOVO:pn80TV:pvrLenovoideapad310-15IKB:rvnLENOVO:rnVIUU4:rvrSDK0K17763WIN:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrLenovoideapad310-15IKB:
dmi.product.name: 80TV
dmi.product.version: Lenovo ideapad 310-15IKB
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[jeremy-list (quick-dudley)]

Bug still present in 55.0.2+build1-0ubuntu0.17.04.1