ALM Flight 980
An ONA Douglas DC-9-33CF leased by ALM, similar to the aircraft involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 2, 1970 |
| Summary | Water landing after fuel exhaustion due to pilot error |
| Site | Caribbean Sea 18°N 64°W / 18°N 64°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Douglas DC-9-33CF |
| Aircraft name | Carib Queen |
| Operator | Overseas National Airways on behalf of ALM |
| Registration | N935F |
| Flight origin | John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York |
| Destination | Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten |
| Occupants | 63 |
| Passengers | 57 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 23 |
| Injuries | 37 |
| Survivors | 40 |
ALM Flight 980 was a regularly scheduled international passenger flight that originated in John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, to Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, on May 2, 1970. After several unsuccessful landing attempts, the aircraft's fuel was exhausted, and it made a forced water landing in the Caribbean Sea 48 km (30 mi; 26 nmi) off St. Croix, with 23 fatalities and 40 survivors.
The accident is one of a small number of intentional water ditchings of jet airliners.