Debris from a crashed aircraft discovered in Puerto Rico

Debris from a crashed aircraft discovered in Puerto Rico after 74 years.

Consensus

The wreckage of a Pan American Douglas DC-4 was discovered in June 2026 off the northern coast of Puerto Rico.
The aircraft crashed on April 11, 1953, during a flight from San Juan to New York.
The crash occurred shortly after takeoff due to engine failure.
The plane made a forced water landing but sank within minutes.
Only 17 people survived the crash.
The wreckage was found at a depth of approximately 600–610 meters using advanced underwater technology.
No recovery of the wreckage is planned, due to the presence of human remains and preservation concerns.

The aircraft was a Douglas DC-4 operated by Pan American; it crashed on April 11, 1948 (incorrectly stated as 74 years ago in the report), with 52 fatalities and 12 passengers, three pilots, and two flight attendants surviving. — vesti
The aircraft was identified as Clipper Endeavor; survivors included 17 people (12 passengers, 3 pilots, 2 stewards); the crash led to new pre-flight safety briefings on water landings. — kommersant
The aircraft's name was Clipper Endeavor; it had 64 passengers and 5 crew members on board; the plane sank in less than three minutes; the crash prompted changes to aviation standards, including mandatory demonstration of emergency exits and life vest use. — m24