1923 Aeromarine 75 Columbus incident

On January 13, 1923, Aeromarine 75 passenger seaplane Columbus ditched in the Straits of Florida after developing engine troubles on a flight from Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba. The plane filled with water and sank after being hit by waves, killing four passengers. The remaining passengers and two crew were later rescued by a passing ferry, H. M. Flagler. The accident was the first major passenger flight disaster in American aviation. The flight operator, Aeromarine West Indies Airways, would shut down the following year due to financial losses.

Accident

The plane departed Key West for Havana as usual, a regular daily trip. When 20 or 21 miles north of Havana, however, engine trouble arose. The pilot was forced to make an emergency descent to try and fix the issue. When he turned the nose towards the water for the descent, "something snapped" and the plane "crumpled", diving uncontrollably.

The pilot glided around a few times in an attempt to smooth out the landing due to rough sea conditions present in the area. Unfortunately, the plane instead ended up landing in "the trough of a big wave", which instantly crushed the center of the passenger cabin. Two children sleeping in the cabin are believed to have been killed instantly when it was crushed. The plane quickly began to sink due to violent landing and the 10–15 (or 15–20) foot waves present in the straits.

The plane's wreckage remained partially afloat, so the remaining five occupants (both crew and five passengers) clung to it awaiting rescue. Initially two other passengers also made it out but slipped off before help could arrive.

The H. M. Flagler, a ferry passing through the area at the time whose occupants witnessed the crash from 0.75 miles away, was immediately turned towards the crash site by captain John Albury, and quickly dispatched a small lifeboat to send aid from 150 yards away. The five survivors were retrieved, unharmed apart from some bruises but wet and in shock.

As this was happening, the crew of the Flagler sent out a radiogram to report the crash. The Flagler arrived that night at Key West with the survivors onboard.