Russ Matthews

Russ Matthews, President of the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation (ASHF), is featured in recent news regarding the discovery of the Pan Am Clipper Endeavor wreckage. The plane crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico on April 11, 1952, after experiencing multiple engine failures. Remarkably, all onboard survived the initial impact. The discovery of this wreckage is significant because the incident played a crucial role in shaping modern airline safety, leading to mandatory safety briefings on flights. Matthews was present with other key figures, including Idee Matthews-Montijo (ASHF Director), Josh Gates (Expedition Unknown), and Craig Wallace (Deep Sea Vision President of Operations), during the expedition that located the plane's remains 2,000 feet below sea level using a sonar-equipped drone. His involvement highlights the ongoing efforts to uncover historical aviation events and their impact on current safety standards.