The Air/Sea Heritage Foundation and Deep Sea Vision found the wreck of Pan Am Flight 526A on June 2, 2026, nearly 2,000 feet deep and about five miles off Puerto Rico’s northern coast. They used an autonomous underwater vehicle with high-resolution sonar and identified the aircraft from its tail, fuselage and visible Pan Am branding in a survey of more than 350,000 photographs. Discovery announced the find on July 21, 2026.
The DC-4 ditched after two of its four engines failed shortly after takeoff from San Juan on April 11, 1952. All 69 people aboard survived the impact, but only 17 were rescued before the aircraft sank; 52 died. The crash helped spur preflight safety briefings on life vests, rafts and exits. The foundation said it is working with Puerto Rico to protect the site and pursue a memorial.
