In a harrowing turn of events, a Pan American Convair Clipper carrying 29 passengers and four crew members crashed into the sea near Palisadoes Airport. Despite foggy weather and poor visibility, all lives were miraculously spared due to the swift action of the nearby rescue ship, Cable. Survivors recounted the tense moments as the aircraft circled the airstrip before hitting the water, describing the conditions as "black" and chaotic. Among the survivors were three Jamaicans and several South Americans, including children, all rescued in a heroic effort by local teams.

Published Monday, September 3,1951

Plane crashes in sea off Palisadoes Airport

All 33 aboard rescued

AFTER CIRCLING THE AIRSTRIP once in foggy weather with poor visibility, a Pan American Convair Clipper with 29 passengers and a crew of four in flight from Miami yesterday crashed into the sea at Palisadoes Airport during a rain squall about 200 yards from the tip of the runway on which it should have landed.

There was no loss of life in the mishap but this fortunate circumstance was due principally to quick action by the crew of Messrs. Meritt Chapman and Scott’s rescue ship Cable who rushed in a launch from a salvage Jon Aby the runway to save the full complement of passengers which included five children under ten years of age.

The survivors were mostly South Americans, a few Cubans and Americans, and three Jamaicans who were – returning from the United States. They all agreed that there was poor visibility when the crash occurred.

Some described weather conditions over the airport at the time as foggy while many of the Spanish speaking Latino chose one word “Black”.

Heroic Rescue

After the rescue, the survivors were all taken to the Nuttall Memorial Hospital for medical examination which resulted in four of them being detained because of shock. They were otherwise unaffected.

With 25 travelling in transit to different parts of South America the passengers were listed as follows, Mrs. O de Rueda, Miss R. de Rueda, Mr. Norton Young, Mr. G. Rueles, Mrs. A. Buchanan and family of four, Miss R. S. deCorena. Mr. J. Merrill and Masters David and Johnnie Merrill Mrs. P. Crum Hulme, Mr. A. Alvats, Mr. Elias and Miss M. Jattin, Dr. and Mrs. Juan du Saldarriga and Miss J deSaldarriga, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Walker and Miss Melody Walker, Mr. Ricardo Leo, Mr. Wilson Hightower, Mr. Takis Vourvoulias, Miss Nina deOrdaonna and Miss M. Esquevil.

Capt Olson was in charge of the flight with a co-pilot and two pursers.

Scheduled to touch down at the airport at 10:10 from Miami, the twin-engined aircraft emerged from the clouds over the airport on schedule.

Circles Airstrip

As she roared up to her destination she was seen by some workmen to circle once over the airstrip apparently negotiating the runway to make the landing. But in the words of one eye-witness all did not seem well.

The aircraft was said to have passed over the runway, then to suddenly bank on its right to what seemed to be an attempt to head back towards the runway. However, about 200 yards off it was seen to hit the water with its right wing and settle on it with its engines spluttering.

It was obvious to workmen on the Cable who were on the job of re-floating the motor vessel Jamestown which is aground by the airstrip that the crew and passengers of the plane might be in trouble so they immediately rushed to the ill-fated craft in one of the rescue ship motor launches.

On reaching the aircraft they found a number of passengers already wearing lifejackets, others had jumped through the landing door onto the rubber aircraft which was thrown out by the crew of the plane.

Those who were still inside the aircraft were removed by the rescuers, one of whom climbed into it to take out three small children.

Right Wing Severed

The plane became quickly submerged with only its left wing and portion of its tail projecting out of the water. The right wing had broken off. The rescue was done in a matter of minutes.

Because of the poor sight many persons at the airport did not realize that the aircraft had missed the runway and plunged into the sea instead, and they were only aware of the danger when the rescue ship sounded her distress signal.

The survivors were all assumed on the life raft and they were transferred to the motor launch which took them to the foot of the runway. The rescue party also included members of the crew of J S Welsters motor vessel Crystal which was near the Cable, and the motor launch Invader skippered by Mr. Karl Abrahams.

According to the rescuers the passengers all displayed remarkable coolness throughout the incident. Officials of the Civil Aeronautics Board and executives of Pan American World Airways were taken to Palisadoes Airport yesterday afternoon on their arrival from Miami to carry out an investigation into the PAA plane crash in Kingston Harbour. They will remain for a few days.They are staying at the Myrtle Bank Hotel.

Following the medical examination at the hospital, the survivors not detained were transferred to the Myrtle Bank Hotel which saw to their care and comfort for the day.

In little groups they recounted their experience mainly in Spanish, but for two of the youngest members of the entire group refrained from any detailed discussion of the mishap.

Seven-year-old Wilson Marshall Hightower who was travelling alone on his way to Barranquilla, seemed none the worse for his experience.

I have gotten it all over he told The Gleaner. The morning was very foggy and rainy and I knew we were coming down then suddenly I saw nothing more and we hit the bottom.

Mr. Norton Young” chemist, travelling to his native Bogota Colombia, said he had feared all was better when he realized the plane was circling the airport. It was foggy and dark then he heard the bump and crew shouting orders for the life jackets.

At the hotel, the survivors were interviewed by Mr. Jimmy Green, the Traffic Manager of Pan American World Airways, and Mr. L. V. D. Samuel, the airlines solicitor, while the police angle of the work was carried out by Superintendent Woodriffe, Detective Inspector Jonathan Darnells and Detective Sergt Roland S. Titley of the C.I.D.

Immediately after the crash a divers examination of the aircraft was carried out by Messrs Merritt Chapman and Scott’s personnel it showed the submerged right wing of the plane completely broken off and the nose stuck fast in the mud.

Pan American and CAA Officials were flown out from Miami yesterday afternoon to investigate the cause of the disaster.

Mails Salvaged

The Conair Clipper took off from Miami’s International Airport yesterday for Camaguey Cuba with passengers, mail and freight. After the accident the greater portion of the mail was salvaged but flight and passengers baggage have not yet been recovered.

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