On October 28, 1949, an Air France Lockheed Constellation aircraft operating on Flight 152 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near the Azores archipelago. This flight, part of the airline's transatlantic route, was carrying a total of 48 people, including passengers and crew members, when it went down during a challenging section of its journey from Paris to New York City. Prior to the crash, the aircraft had reportedly encountered severe turbulence and adverse weather conditions, which raised concerns about the safety of the aircraft's flight path. Despite this, there was no indication of a problem from the crew until it was too late.

The wreckage was discovered submerged in the ocean, and a search operation led by the Portuguese authorities was launched immediately. Unfortunately, after extensive efforts to recover survivors and evidence from the aircraft, it was confirmed that no one had survived the crash. The results of the investigation revealed critical safety oversights and led to further scrutiny of airline operations and maintenance practices in the post-war aviation industry. This incident highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by aviation in guaranteeing passenger safety amidst unpredictable weather conditions.

In the aftermath of the crash, Air France, along with international aviation authorities, was prompted to implement new safety measures and protocols aimed at improving weather assessment procedures. Flight improvements and training protocols for pilots were also re-evaluated to enhance crisis management skills in the cockpit. The crash not only shocked families of the victims but also raised awareness about the complexities of transatlantic flights in a rapidly growing aviation industry.