| - | ACCIDENT DETAILS |
| Date: | May 02, 1970 |
| Time: | 1549 |
| Location: | Near St. Croix, US Virgin Islands |
| Operator: | Antillean Airlines |
| Flight #: | 980 |
| Route: | New York City - St. Maarten |
| AC Type: | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-33CF |
| Registration: | N935F |
| cn / ln: | 47407/457 |
| Aboard: | 63 (passengers:57 crew:6) |
| Fatalities: | 23 (passengers:22 crew:1) |
| Ground: | 0 |
| Summary: | The flight was scheduled to fly from New York to St. Maarten. Because of poor visibility, the aircraft could not land at St. Maarten and was diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Five minutes later the crew was told the weather had improved at St. Maarten and were directed back. After 3 missed landing attempts at St. Maarten, the crew asked to be diverted to St. Thomas. By this time, the plane was very low on fuel and the crew chose to divert to St. Croix. While trying to make St. Croix, the aircraft ran out of fuel and ditched into the sea, 35 miles from shore, sinking in 5,000 ft. of water. Improper management of fuel by the crew. Continued, unsuccessful attempts to land at St. Maarten until insufficient fuel remained to reach an alternate airport. A contributing factor was rain showers in the approaching zone not reported to the crew. Inadequate warning given to passengers before the ditching. |
Sources
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