Pan Am Flight 121
Coordinates: 35.028°N 40.386°E
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Pan Am Flight 121

Lockheed L-049 Constellation in PAN AM livery, similar to the crash aircraft.
This aircraft later crashed as
Pan Am Flight 151.
Accident
Date: June 19, 1947
Summary: Engine failure leading to in-flight fire
Site: Syrian Desert, 4 miles (6.4 km) from Mayadin, Syria
35.028°N 40.386°E
Aircraft
Aircraft type: Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Aircraft name: Clipper Eclipse
Operator: Pan American World Airways
Call sign: CLIPPER 121
Registration: NC88845
Flight origin: Karachi Civil Airport, Karachi, British Raj
Destination: Istanbul, Turkey
Occupants: 36
Passengers: 26
Crew: 10
Fatalities: 15
Survivors: 21
Pan Am Flight 121 was a scheduled Pan American World Airways flight from Karachi to Istanbul. On the evening of June 18, 1947, the Lockheed L-049 Constellation serving the flight, known as the
Clipper Eclipse (previously
Clipper Dublin), suffered an engine failure. This led to the overheating of the remaining engines until one caught fire, which spread to the aircraft. The heat from burning magnesium parts separated the engine from the aircraft, leaving it unable to maintain altitude. Early in the morning of June 19, 1947 the plane crashed in the Syrian desert 4 miles (6.4 km) from the town of Mayadin. Fifteen people were killed, including 7 crew and 8 passengers. The three surviving crew members were third officer
Gene Roddenberry (who went on to create the original
Star Trek television series), the chief purser, and one flight attendant. After rescuing passengers from the burning wreckage, Roddenberry took control as the ranking flight officer and organized scout parties to find aid. By midday, the Syrian Army took the survivors to the hospital at Deir ez-Zor. The majority returned to the United States quickly while Roddenberry remained in Syria for two weeks to answer questions about the crash from the local government.
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