Historic plane crashes near Seattle

The plane is the only one of its kind in existence

A vintage passenger plane once used by the Haitian dictator Papa Doc Duvalier has crashed off the coast of Seattle.

All four people on board were rescued.

The pilot of the 1940s plane - the only Boeing 307 Stratoliner still in existence - had reported having problems with the landing gear about 30 minutes after take off.

The aircraft was the first commercial plane with a pressurised cabin.

It now belongs to the Smithsonian Institution.

Assessment

The plane had been taken up by three Boeing test pilots and an observer for a pilot proficiency test.

Howard Hughes had a master bedroom installed in his 307

Witnesses said that before it crashed into the water, the plane seemed to be flying lower and lower and the engine was heard to be sputtering.

It landed off West Seattle, near a barge and a waterside restaurant, and began to sink.

Officials said cranes would be used to pull the aircraft from the water later on Friday.

It will then be transported by truck to nearby Boeing Field, where specialists will assess whether it can be flown again.

'Flying penthouse'

The eruption of World War II put an end to Boeing's production of Stratoliners.

Boeing 307

First flight: 1938

First commercial plane with pressurised cabin

Space for 5 crew and 33 passengers

Could fly at 20,000 feet

Five of the 10 planes were used for military transport. Others flew routes between the US and Latin America and between New York and Los Angeles.

Boeing says the 307 attracted the attention of millionaire Howard Hughes, who bought one for himself and transformed it into a "flying penthouse" with a master bedroom, two bathrooms, a bar and a large living room.

The aircraft which crashed off Seattle once served as Duvalier's presidential plane.

After being discovered in an Arizona museum, retired Boeing employees volunteered to restore it and worked on it for six years.

The plane was due to be part of a Smithsonian exhibit at Washington Dulles International Airport next year.