A Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9, operating under flight number 405, tragically crashed into the Caribbean Sea shortly after takeoff from Las Américas International Airport in the Dominican Republic. At the time, the aircraft was carrying 102 passengers and crew, including members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team and the well-known lightweight boxer Carlos Cruz. The flight was en route to Puerto Rico when it experienced severe difficulties within moments of departure.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane flying erratically before disappearing from view. Search and recovery efforts were promptly initiated, but the challenging conditions of the Caribbean Sea made the operation difficult. Recovery teams eventually retrieved wreckage and unfortunately confirmed that there were no survivors from the crash. The incident drew considerable media attention, particularly due to the notable athletes that lost their lives in the tragedy, highlighting the dangers associated with air travel at the time.

Investigations into the cause of the crash revealed that it was related to a combination of technical malfunctions and operational mismanagement. Following the event, there was an increased emphasis on improving aviation safety protocols in the region. This tragedy not only affected the victims' families and communities but also raised awareness about air travel safety standards in the Caribbean.