A newly launched luxury sailing cruise yacht has come under scrutiny after its anchor reportedly caused significant damage to a rare World War II aircraft wreck resting on the seabed off the southern coast of France.

According to French maritime authorities and local media reports, the Orient Express Corinthian anchored in Les Lecques Bay near Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer on July 16. The following day, divers discovered that the wreck of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft had been severely damaged, with large sections of the historic aircraft broken apart and scattered across the seabed.

The aircraft, which crashed into the Mediterranean in 1944 after being shot down during World War II, lay approximately 38 meters (125 feet) below the surface. Since its discovery in 1996, it had become one of the region's best-known dive sites and served as an artificial reef supporting a variety of marine life.

The French Maritime Prefecture confirmed that the damage was caused by the anchor of the Orient Express Corinthian, the world's largest sailing yacht, which entered service earlier this year. Authorities said the vessel had anchored in an area where anchoring is generally permitted, but directly above the historic wreck.

Following the incident, authorities temporarily prohibited both diving and anchoring around the site while specialists assess the full extent of the damage. Local diving organizations have described the destruction as a major loss for France's underwater cultural heritage and have renewed calls for stronger protection measures, including permanent mooring buoys or designated no-anchoring zones around historic wrecks.

The incident has also raised questions about the protection of underwater archaeological sites. Although the wreck was well known among the diving community, reports indicate it was not protected by physical markers or exclusion zones that would have prevented vessels from anchoring directly above it. French media report that legal proceedings may follow as authorities investigate the destruction of the protected heritage site.

The Orient Express Corinthian, operated by Orient Express Sailing Yachts, was officially named in April 2026 and is currently sailing its inaugural Mediterranean season. The 220-meter vessel accommodates 110 guests in 54 luxury suites and is promoted as the world's largest sailing yacht