Wreckage of 1952 Pan Am Crash Found 74 Years Later Off Puerto Rico

A search team using high-resolution sonar was able to locate the wreckage of an aircraft that crashed 74 years ago. Here are the details on this recent stunning discovery off the island of Puerto Rico.

Pan Am Clipper Endeavor Closure as Wreckage of Ill-Fated Flight Found

A story is finally coming to a close. Seventy-four years after crashing into the ocean off the northern coast of Puerto Rico, a search team has located the wreckage of an ill-fated Pan Am flight.

The wreckage of the Pan Am "Clipper Endeavor" was found at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean by a crew with the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation. The Douglas DC-4 crashed shortly after takeoff on April 11, 1952. Although it is believed that all of the 64 passengers and five crew members survived the impact with the water, only 17 people were rescued, leaving the death toll at 52.

The discovery was announced on Tuesday on the "Today" show. According to the report, crews used the advanced technology of an autonomous underwater drone to locate the wreckage located about 2,000 feet below the surface of the water.

The Air/Sea Heritage Foundation will continue to work with officials in Puerto Rico to increase protections for the wreckage site in order to preserve the burial ground. There are also plans to build a memorial for those who were lost in the tragedy.

There are still two known survivors alive today. One woman, now 102 years old, was a nurse onboard the plane when it went down. She is credited with helping to open the plane's door to free passengers. A baby found floating on the surface of the water by rescuers was resuscitated and is also still alive today.

Crash Spurred Major Changes in the Aviation Industry

The tragedy led to major changes across the aviation industry. According to the Pan Am Historical Foundation, the flight was bound for New York when it lost both of its right-side engines minutes after takeoff. The loss of the engines forced the pilot to attempt an emergency water landing.

While the plane was equipped with enough personal flotation devices and life rafts for everyone aboard, the confusion that ensued limited the survival rate. In a recent press release about the findings, the Discovery Channel said that a lack of a safety briefing before takeoff, a language barrier, and no formal evacuation procedure contributed to the tragedy.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force scrambled to save 12 passengers and the five crew members, but it was too late for the rest of those onboard. As a result of the incident, the aviation industry implemented the standard preflight briefings that passengers see today. This includes instructions on where to find the emergency exits and life rafts, and how to use life vests in the event of a water landing.

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