American four-engined airliner; service from 1940s onward
Bird strikes have contributed to a high-profile helicopter crash in New York and a separate investigation into a long-dunken 1952 disaster. Authorities say birds struck helicopters during low-altitude flights, prompting safety reviews and potential flight-restrictions. Investigations have highlighted the risk to urban sightseeing and the need for clearer safety procedures.
The Pan Am Clipper Endeavor has been located deep in the Atlantic—two stories in one: the wreckage confirms what historians knew and shows how safety measures implemented over decades have saved lives in air travel.