Incident Overview
A flight originating from Riverside, California, bound for the United Kingdom, encountered engine problems while en route over the Atlantic Ocean. The captain made a decision to ditch the aircraft approximately 385 miles northeast of Bermuda. Following the ditching, 18 crew members took refuge in life rafts, while two other crewmen drowned.
Rescue Efforts
About two days after the accident, the crew of a United States Army Air Forces B-17 bomber sighted the survivors. The Canadian destroyer named 'Haida' subsequently conducted the rescue operation, evacuating the survivors 72 hours after the accident. The aircraft was lost.
Probable Cause
The official investigation's probable cause was engine failure.