Storm-Broken Jet Becomes Functioning Reef Off Miami Coast

In the mid-1960s, a Boeing 727 named Spirit of Miami was delivered and spent decades in service. By the early 1990s, it had been decommissioned and its fuel lines, wiring, and other hazardous materials were stripped out to prevent contamination.

The plane was then placed on a barge and towed offshore before being lowered gently onto the seafloor in about 82 feet of water. This was done to create an artificial reef, providing a structure for marine life to thrive.

However, just over a year later, Tropical Storm Gordon passed through the area with turbulent seas. The storm's force was strong enough to break the aircraft in half, pushing the tail section 150 yards further out into deeper water.

Despite this damage, both pieces of the wreck continued to support marine life. Soft corals and oysters settled down on the wreckage, while fish such as parrotfish and snapper used it as a refuge and food source.