Accident Overview
On May 2, 1970, ALM Flight 980, a regularly scheduled international passenger flight, was en route from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. After several unsuccessful landing attempts at the destination, the aircraft exhausted its fuel supply. The crew executed a forced water landing in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 48 kilometers off the coast of St. Croix.
Casualties and Survivors
The accident resulted in 23 fatalities. There were 40 survivors from the flight.
Sequence of Events
The flight originated from New York City with a planned destination of St. Maarten. Upon arrival, the crew made multiple approaches to land, none of which were successful. Unable to land, the aircraft continued to circle and eventually depleted its fuel. With no other options, the crew performed a controlled ditching into the sea near St. Croix.
Location and Context
The forced landing occurred in the Caribbean Sea, 48 kilometers off St. Croix. The area is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The ditching was carried out in daylight conditions, though specific weather and visibility details are not documented in the source.
Aftermath
Search and rescue efforts were initiated following the ditching. The survivors were rescued from the water, while 23 passengers and crew perished in the accident. No further details regarding the recovery or investigation are available from the source.