What happened
A flight traveling from Riverside, California, toward the United Kingdom experienced significant mechanical difficulties while traversing the Atlantic Ocean. During the transit, the crew encountered issues with the aircraft's engines, which prompted the captain to execute an emergency ditching procedure. The incident occurred approximately 385 miles northeast of Bermuda.
Following the impact with the water, eighteen members of the crew managed to reach safety using inflatable life rafts. Tragically, two individuals from the flight were lost during the event and drowned. The survivors remained adrift for roughly two days before being located by a US Air Force B-17 crew. Approximately 72 hours after the initial accident, the crew of the Canadian destroyer Haida arrived at the scene to perform the rescue and evacuate the remaining personnel. The aircraft was destroyed in the process.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the emergency ditching was engine failure during the oceanic crossing.