Searchers have discovered the wreckage of Pan Am's Clipper Endeavor, 74 years after the aircraft crashed into the ocean off Puerto Rico in 1952, according to CBS News and the Associated Press.
The New York-bound DC-4 lost engine power shortly after takeoff, killing 52 people. Survivors later told investigators that panic and confusion over life vests and rafts contributed to the high death toll.
Using years of historical research and an autonomous sonar drone, the expedition located the fuselage and tail section nearly 2,000 feet below the surface. According to the report, archived crash records, witness accounts and weather data helped narrow the search area.
The expedition team is now working with Puerto Rican authorities to protect the wreck site and has contacted families of victims, including the crash's only two known living survivors.
Related Tweet:
In April 1952, Pan Am’s Clipper Endeavor crashed into the Atlantic Ocean just minutes after takeoff. The tragedy will go on to change aviation forever, leading to safety procedures that continue to protect passengers today. Despite decades of searches, the aircraft remained lost… pic.twitter.com/ooqMSjibBd
— Discovery (@Discovery) July 21, 2026
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