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OtherWreck of 1952 Pan Am plane crash discovered off Puerto Rico, 52 dead
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Researchers have discovered the wreckage of a Pan Am plane that crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico in 1952, killing 52 people. The 'Clipper Endeavour' was located on June 2 using high-resolution sonar after years of searching by the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation and Warner Bros. Discovery. The aircraft took off from Puerto Rico on April 11, 1952, bound for New York, but suffered multiple engine failures shortly after takeoff, forcing an emergency landing at sea. All occupants initially survived the impact, but chaos ensued due to no safety briefing, language barriers, and lack of evacuation plan. The plane sank in less than three minutes. Twelve passengers and five crew members were rescued. The accident led to far-reaching aviation reforms, including mandatory pre-flight safety briefings.
Source report
This undated handout from the Pan Am Historical Foundation shows the crashed Clipper "Endeavor." Source: Uncredited/Pan Am Historical Foundation/AP/dpa
Decades after the crash, researchers have discovered the wreck of a long-missing Pan Am plane off the coast of Puerto Rico. The aircraft, missing for over 70 years, was located using high-resolution sonar.
The Discovery
The media company Warner Bros. Discovery and the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, which were heavily involved in the search, announced the finding. The plane was located on June 2 using high-resolution sonar.
The Crash
The passenger aircraft, known as the "Clipper Endeavour," took off from Puerto Rico on April 11, 1952, bound for New York. Shortly after takeoff, several engines failed, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing at sea.
Chaos After Ditching
According to Discovery, all occupants initially survived the impact, which tore off the plane's tail but left the cabin intact. However, the situation quickly deteriorated:
- No safety briefing had been given
- A significant language barrier existed among passengers
- No coordinated evacuation plan was in place
- Passengers fell into chaos and confusion in heavy seas
- The aircraft filled with water and sank in less than three minutes
Casualties and Rescue
- 52 people died in the accident
- 12 passengers and 5 crew members were rescued
Legacy and Aviation Reform
The accident was described as a "tragic legacy" that changed modern aviation forever. Subsequently, far-reaching reforms were introduced, including mandatory pre-flight safety briefings.
The logo of Pan American World Airways on the bow of the wreck of the "Clipper Endeavor." Source: Uncredited/Air/Sea Heritage Foundation and Deep Sea Vision/AP/dpa
Search Efforts
Russ Matthews, president of the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, had been searching for the plane since 2019. He came across the aircraft's story while researching another crash.
"I was amazed that this very important story had been largely forgotten. We are all overwhelmed and delighted by this discovery, but also humbled by what happened at this site so long ago," Matthews said in a statement.
dpa/saha
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
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Wreck of 1952 Pan Am Plane Crash Discovered Off Puerto Rico, 52 Dead