Summary
The wreckage of the Pan Am Clipper Endeavor plane, which crashed 74 years ago off the coast of Puerto Rico, has been found 2,000 feet underwater using a sonar drone. The crash led to important changes in aviation safety, such as mandatory pre-flight safety briefings and better flotation equipment on planes.Key Facts
- The Clipper Endeavor crashed on April 11, 1952, after multiple engines failed shortly after takeoff.
- Of the 69 people on board, only 17 survived because passengers struggled to find life vests and rafts.
- The crash prompted new airline safety rules, including mandatory safety briefings before every commercial flight.
- The wreckage was discovered using a sonar-equipped autonomous drone in June 2024.
- The search was led by the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation with help from the Discovery Channel’s Expedition Unknown show.
- Researchers used old maps, air force pilot reports, weather data, and Civil Aeronautics Board records to locate the crash site.
- The plane wreckage was found broken into two parts with the Pan Am logo still visible on the fuselage.
- The discovery is seen as a reminder of the crash’s impact on improving passenger safety on airplanes.
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