Douglas DC-9 crash, May 2, 1970 (23 killed), Caribbean Se...
Douglas DC-9 accident on May 2, 1970 near Caribbean Sea off St Croix, US Virgin Islands with 23 fatalities. Cause: Fuel exhaustion after repeated...
- Date: May 2, 1970
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-9
- Location: Caribbean Sea off St Croix, US Virgin Islands
- Fatalities: 23
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Fuel exhaustion after repeated unsuccessful landing attempts at St Maarten, leaving too little fuel to reach an alternate airport
ALM flight 980 from New York to St Maarten ran out of fuel after several failed approaches in poor weather and ditched in the Caribbean Sea. Of the 63 people aboard, 23 died and 40 survived, and the aircraft sank in deep water. The NTSB attributed the accident to fuel exhaustion.