When we think of the first transatlantic flight, we think of Charles Lindbergh, but his was the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The first crossing, via an airplane, took place nearly eight years before Lindbergh's.
On June 14, 1919, Capt. John Alcock and Lt. Arthur Whitten-Brown took off from a pasture at Monday's Pond, near St. John's, Newfoundland. They flew more than 1900 miles before reaching the Irish coast, near Clifden, 16 hours and 12 minutes later. Unfortunately, they crash landed; fortunately, no one was hurt. The plane they flew, a 1919 Vickers Vimy, a twin engine biplane, was heavily damaged. It was later repaired by Vickers and was presented to the Science Museum in London, where it is still on display today.
Now this is to take nothing away from Lindbergh's accomplishment, which was certainly incredible. Lindbergh, who made his flight in May of 1927, flew more than twice as far, 3610 miles. He was also in the air twice as long, 33 hours and 30 minutes.
He just wasn't the first.