What happened
On June 7, 1989, a Surinam Airways DC-8-62 was operating an international scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport. The aircraft, registered as PZ-TCD, carried 187 individuals on board. During the final approach phase to Paramaribo-Zanderij, the flight deviated significantly from its intended glide path. The aircraft impacted terrain short of the runway, resulting in a catastrophic crash.
Investigation
The accident resulted in 178 fatalities and only 9 survivors. It remains the deadliest aviation disaster in Suriname's history. Investigations into the incident focused on the circumstances surrounding the deviation from the approach path and the subsequent impact with the ground.
Findings
The primary outcome of the event was the high loss of life, underscoring the severity of the deviation during the critical landing phase. The disaster highlighted challenges in navigation and approach procedures for this specific route at that time.