"Amazing Discovery"... The Identity of the Eerie Passenger Plane Abandoned on the Red Sea Seafloor

Engine and airplane wings intact, shape preserved as is

Photo by Flickr

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Recently, foreign media such as CNN reported on the identity of a passenger plane lying on the bottom of the Red Sea, creating an eerie scene.

American underwater photographer Brett Hoelzer discovered a passenger plane with its engine and wings intact underwater in Aqaba Bay, Jordan.

According to the photos he took, the aircraft is a Lockheed Martin L1011 Tristar, which began service in the 1980s and was widely used for civilian passenger flights until the early 2000s.

Jordanian news agency Petra stated, "The passenger plane was artificially submerged in 2019 to preserve the marine ecosystem and promote diving tourism."

Currently, the aircraft is surrounded by a massive sponge, becoming a habitat for various marine species. Diverse marine life, including octopuses and pufferfish, are found on the plane.

Moreover, it has become an underwater tourist attraction. Professional divers gather here for the unique experience of exploring a passenger plane beneath the sea.

Divers enter the aircraft and explore its interior. Hoelzer said, "The passenger plane is remarkably well preserved. The cockpit, seats, restrooms, and other onboard facilities remain intact."

However, contrary to the positive expectations that artificial coral would promote marine ecosystem growth and boost local tourism, there are differing opinions on the effectiveness of artificial coral.

Marine expert Adriana Humances expressed concerns, saying, "Artificial coral reefs are not always ecologically sound. If potential pollutants such as copper and lead corrode, heavy metals can spread into the seawater."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.