ABSTRACT
On May 2nd 1970, an Overseas National Airways McDonnell Douglas DC-9-33F, operating on behalf of ALM Dutch Antillean Airlines, ditched in the sea in the West Indies.
Having taken off from New York, enroute to St Maarten, West Indies, the flight was diverted twice due to bad weather. The Flight Crew began to get erratic readings from their fuel gauges, which showed next to no fuel and the decision was made to make preparatory plans in case a ditching became necessary. The Purser was called to the flight deck and was told to instruct the passengers to don their lifejackets and prepare the cabin. It was not made clear to the Purser that a ditching was imminent at this stage; merely that it was a possibility.
