Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Encyclopedia
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport
located in Carolina, Puerto Rico
, three miles (five kilometers) southeast of San Juan
. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports (4.6 million in 2008). It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
The airport opened on May 22, 1955. Located in the area known as Isla Verde
, the airport was for many decades known as Isla Verde International Airport, until 1985, when then Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
decided to name it after Luis Muñoz Marín
, Puerto Rico's first democratically elected governor
.
The airport served as a Caribbean hub for Pan Am
, Trans Caribbean Airways
, Eastern Air Lines
, and a short lived focus city
for TWA
. It was also the hub of Puerto Rico's international airline, Prinair
from 1966 until 1984, when Prinair went bankrupt. In 1986, American Airlines (along with American Eagle
) established a hub in the airport to compete with Eastern Air Lines (American then ended hub operations due to flight capacity cuts and remained a focus city until April 4, 2011). In the past, the airport has been served by Mexicana de Aviación
, Lufthansa
, Air France
, KLM, ACES Colombia
, Air Jamaica
, BWIA, Viasa
, Avianca
, Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela
, Aerolíneas Argentinas
, Dominicana de Aviación
, ATA Airlines
and Northwest Airlines
.
, Mayagüez
, Ponce
and Vieques. The airport offers rapid access to San Juan
, the island's capital through the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge
.
The airport serves as the Caribbean hub
for American Eagle
and Cape Air
. Recently the airport serves too as a focus city
for JetBlue Airways
, operating 27 daily flights in summer 2011. JetBlue Airways
is also the largest carrier in Puerto Rico
. Executive Airlines
, under the American Eagle name, is the second largest operator in Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, with a total of 25 daily flights.
The departure area of the main terminal building is divided into four ticket counter areas sorted by carriers: (1) American Airlines, (2) Continental Airlines and Jetblue Airways, (3) Delta Air Lines, and (4) all the other airlines that provide service to the aiport. The American Airlines area is nearest to concourses D and E, the Continental and JetBlue and Delta areas are nearest to concourse C and the remaining area is nearest to concouse B.
The original airport design had a different layout which consisted of three terminals B, C and D. New signing around the airport changed this.
Note: Gates 1A - 1F and gates 2 - 3 in concourse E are currently vacant due to American Airlines' San Juan hub cuts.
Notes: Although British Airways
' flight to London-Gatwick stops in Antigua, British Airways has no rights to transport passengers between San Juan and Antigua.
Over $400 million are being used to expand the airport facilities through 2011. The new Terminal A opening date is yet to be announced.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
, three miles (five kilometers) southeast of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports (4.6 million in 2008). It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
History
Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
Isla Verde is a District of Carolina located east of Santurce next to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge...
, the airport was for many decades known as Isla Verde International Airport, until 1985, when then Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
decided to name it after Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
, Puerto Rico's first democratically elected governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
.
The airport served as a Caribbean hub for Pan Am
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
, Trans Caribbean Airways
Trans Caribbean Airways
Trans Caribbean Airways is a former airline owned by O. Roy Chalk. Its hub was San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1945, it was acquired by American Airlines in 1971. Its headquarters was located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City....
, Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
, and a short lived focus city
Focus city
In the airline industry, a focus city is a location that is not a hub, but from which the airline has non-stop flights to several destinations other than its hubs...
for TWA
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
. It was also the hub of Puerto Rico's international airline, Prinair
Prinair
Prinair was a Puerto Rican airline. It was Puerto Rico's domestic and international flag carrier airline for almost two decades.- History :Services began in 1966, under the name Aerolíneas de Ponce , with Aero Commanders...
from 1966 until 1984, when Prinair went bankrupt. In 1986, American Airlines (along with American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
) established a hub in the airport to compete with Eastern Air Lines (American then ended hub operations due to flight capacity cuts and remained a focus city until April 4, 2011). In the past, the airport has been served by Mexicana de Aviación
Mexicana de Aviación
Founded in 1921, Compañía Mexicana de Aviación, S.A. de C.V. was Mexico's oldest airline, before ceasing operations on August 28, 2010. The group's closure was announced by the company's recently installed management team a short time after the group filed for Concurso Mercantil and US Chapter 15...
, Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
, Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
, KLM, ACES Colombia
ACES Colombia
ACES was an airline with its headquarters in the Edificio del Cafe in Medellín, Colombia and founded on August 30, 1971 by a group of 13 Colombian entrepreneurs, amongst them, most notably Orlando Botero Escobar and German Peñaloza Arias from Manizales and Luis H...
, Air Jamaica
Air Jamaica
Air Jamaica is the current national airline of Jamaica. It is has been owned and operated by Caribbean Airlines since 26 May 2011. The airline, headquartered in Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago also has administrative offices located in Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica...
, BWIA, Viasa
Viasa
Venezolana Internacional de Aviación Sociedad Anónima , or VIASA for short, was the Venezuelan national airline between 1960 and 1997. It was headquartered in the Torre Viasa in Caracas. Launched in 1960, it was nationalised in 1975 due to financial problems, and re-privatised in 1991, with the...
, Avianca
Avianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
, Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela, normally referred to as just Aeropostal, is a flag carrier and the national airline of Venezuela also an airline based in Torre Polar Oeste in Caracas, Venezuela. It operates domestic services and international services in the Caribbean...
, Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas , formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is Argentina's largest airline and serves as the country's flag carrier. Owned in its majority by the Argentine Government, the airline is headquartered in the Torre Bouchard, located in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires...
, Dominicana de Aviación
Dominicana de Aviación
Compañía Dominicana de Aviación, usually shortened to Dominicana, was an airline from the Dominican Republic, serving as flag carrier of the country.-History:...
, ATA Airlines
ATA Airlines
ATA Airlines, Inc., formerly known as American Trans Air, was an American low-cost scheduled service and charter airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ATA operated scheduled passenger flights throughout the US mainland and Hawaii, as well as military and commercial charter flights around the world...
and Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
.
Operations
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the island's main international gateway and its main connection to the United States. Domestic flights fly between Carolina and other local destinations, including CulebraCulebra, Puerto Rico
Isla Culebra is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately east of the Puerto Rican mainland, west of St. Thomas and north of Vieques. Culebra is spread over 5 wards and Culebra Pueblo...
, Mayagüez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
, Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
and Vieques. The airport offers rapid access to San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, the island's capital through the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge
Teodoro Moscoso Bridge
The Teodoro Moscoso Bridge is the bridge that connects San Juan with Isla Verde.-Facts:It was named after Teodoro Moscoso, the architect of Operation Bootstrap, a plan of economic expansion after WWII....
.
The airport serves as the Caribbean hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
for American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
and Cape Air
Cape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
. Recently the airport serves too as a focus city
Focus city
In the airline industry, a focus city is a location that is not a hub, but from which the airline has non-stop flights to several destinations other than its hubs...
for JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
, operating 27 daily flights in summer 2011. JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
is also the largest carrier in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,...
, under the American Eagle name, is the second largest operator in Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, with a total of 25 daily flights.
Terminals, airlines and destinations
The Luis Muñoz Marín Airport has one main terminal building with four concourses and a new terminal building which will have one concourse.The departure area of the main terminal building is divided into four ticket counter areas sorted by carriers: (1) American Airlines, (2) Continental Airlines and Jetblue Airways, (3) Delta Air Lines, and (4) all the other airlines that provide service to the aiport. The American Airlines area is nearest to concourses D and E, the Continental and JetBlue and Delta areas are nearest to concourse C and the remaining area is nearest to concouse B.
The original airport design had a different layout which consisted of three terminals B, C and D. New signing around the airport changed this.
Note: Gates 1A - 1F and gates 2 - 3 in concourse E are currently vacant due to American Airlines' San Juan hub cuts.
Notes: Although British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
' flight to London-Gatwick stops in Antigua, British Airways has no rights to transport passengers between San Juan and Antigua.
Air charters
Top destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  New York City, NY (JFK)John F. Kennedy International Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North... |
511,000 | American, Delta, JetBlue |
| 2 |  Orlando, FL (MCO)Orlando International Airport Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport... |
431,000 | AirTran, JetBlue, Spirit |
| 3 | Miami, FL Miami International Airport Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area... |
423,000 | American |
| 4 | .svg.png) Atlanta, GA |
371,000 | AirTran, Delta |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale... |
255,000 | JetBlue, Spirit |
| 6 |  Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia International Airport Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania... |
228,000 | US Airways |
| 7 |  Boston, MALogan International Airport General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways... |
149,000 | JetBlue |
| 8 |  Charlotte, NCCharlotte/Douglas International Airport Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr... |
143,000 | US Airways |
| 9 |  Dallas/Fort Worth, TX |
132,000 | American |
| 10 |  Chicago, IL (ORD)O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop... |
127,000 | American, United |
Traffic statistics
| Year | Total Passengers | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9,453,564 | - |
| 2002 | 9,389,232 | 0.7% |
| 2003 | 9,716,687 | 3.5% |
| 2004 | 10,568,986 | 8.8% |
| 2005 | 10,768,698 | 1.9% |
| 2006 | 10,506,118 | 2.4% |
| 2007 | 10,409,464 | 0.9% |
| 2008 | 9,378,924 | 9.9% |
| 2009 | 8,245,895 | 12.1% |
| 2010 | 8,491,257 | 3.0% |
Military/cargo ramps
Military ramp
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
- Air National Guard
- Puerto Rico Air National GuardPuerto Rico Air National GuardThe Puerto Rico Air National Guard is the air force militia of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is, along with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, an element of the Puerto Rico National Guard.History=...
- Muniz ANGB
- 156th Airlift Wing156th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 156th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at Muniz ANGB, Puerto Rico.-Mission:The mission of the 156th Airlift Wing is to provide global airlift and agile force to execute and accomplish tasked mission...
- 156th Airlift Wing
- Muniz ANGB
Cargo services
Airport expansion
As of 2008, the airport has been receiving major upgrades, including a new terminal (Terminal A), pavement and apron expansions, new light systems, press conference rooms, and new fast food franchises along its corridors.Over $400 million are being used to expand the airport facilities through 2011. The new Terminal A opening date is yet to be announced.
Accidents and incidents
- On 15 February 1970, a Dominicana de Aviación DC-9McDonnell Douglas DC-9The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
that was flying to Isla Verde crashed shortly after takeoff from Las Américas International AirportLas Américas International Airport-Cargo airlines:-Accidents and incidents:*On February 15, 1970, a Dominicana de Aviación DC-9 flying to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed, killing all 102 persons on board ....
in Punta CaucedoPunta CaucedoPunta Caucedo is a small cape located in the south coast of the Dominican Republic, 15 miles east from Santo Domingo. Las Américas International Airport is located at Punta Caucedo. It is also Sector in the city of Santo Domingo in the Distrito Nacional of the Dominican Republic....
, Dominican RepublicDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, near Santo DomingoSanto DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, killing everyone on board, including Puerto Rico's national women's volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team and DominicanDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
Carlos Cruz, a former world boxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion who was going to San Juan for a rematch with Carlos OrtizCarlos OrtizFor the Cuban wrestler with the same name see Carlos Julian OrtízCarlos Ortiz is a Puerto Rican who was a three time world boxing champion, twice in the lightweight division and once in the Jr. Welterweights....
. See: Dominicana DC-9 air disasterDominicana DC-9 air disasterThe Dominicana de Aviación Santo Domingo DC-9 air disaster occurred on February 15, 1970 when a Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 twin-engine jet airliner crashed on takeoff from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico.The aircraft used for the Dominicana... - On 24 June 1972, Prinair Flight 191Prinair Flight 191Prinair Flight 191 was a Prinair flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Mercedita Airport in Ponce, Puerto Rico. At approximately 11:15pm on 24 June 1972, the aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Mercedita Airport...
, which took off from Isla Verde Airport, crashed while attempting to land at Mercedita AirportMercedita AirportMercedita Airport is a commercial airport located three miles east of the central business district of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The airport covers and has one runway. Passenger movement at the airport in FY 2008 was 278,911, an astounding 1,228% increase over fiscal year 2003 and the highest of all...
in PoncePonce, Puerto RicoPonce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. - On 31 December 1972, baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
star Roberto ClementeRoberto ClementeRoberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
and his companions died when their DC-7 crashed soon after takeoffTakeoffTakeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
from Isla Verde during a relief flight bound for NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Neither the bodies of the victims nor the plane's wreckage were ever found. - In 1983, a hijacked AlitaliaAlitaliaAlitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. , in its later stages known as Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. in Extraordinary Administration, was the former Italian flag carrier...
DC-10 landed at this airport, under orders by the hijacker. - In 1985, an American Airlines DC-10 taking off from Muñoz Marín to Dallas-Fort Worth International AirportDallas-Fort Worth International AirportDallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
in TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
overran the runway and nosedived into a nearby lagoon. There were no injuries. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850627-0 - On 29 July 1986, Douglas C-53D N27PR of Borinquen AirBorinquen AirBorinquen Air is an Air Charter operator based at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the oldest Air Charter in Puerto Rico.It also serves fuel via its sister company Amber Service.IATA Code: 3B...
crashed into a lagoon on approach. The aircraft was on an international cargo flight to Golden Rock AirportRobert L. Bradshaw International AirportRobert L. Bradshaw International Airport is an international airport located just northeast of Basseterre, on the island of Saint Kitts, serving the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It was named after the first Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla , Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.A major renovation was...
, Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and NevisThe Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
when the starboard engine failed shortly after take-off and the decision was made to return to Carolina. One of the two crew was killed, the other was seriously injured. - On 1 March 1989, Douglas C-49J N28PR of Borinquen AirBorinquen AirBorinquen Air is an Air Charter operator based at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the oldest Air Charter in Puerto Rico.It also serves fuel via its sister company Amber Service.IATA Code: 3B...
ditched on approach following a failure of the port engine. Although the landing gear was retracted, the crew did not feather the propellor. This resulted in increased drag which made flight impossible. The aircraft was on an international cargo flight from Golden Rock AirportRobert L. Bradshaw International AirportRobert L. Bradshaw International Airport is an international airport located just northeast of Basseterre, on the island of Saint Kitts, serving the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It was named after the first Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla , Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.A major renovation was...
, Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and NevisThe Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
. - On 17 September 1989, Douglas C-47A N100DW of Tol Air Services was damaged beyond economic repair by Hurricane HugoHurricane HugoHurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
. - On 24 September 1998, - Trans-Florida Airlines Convair 240-13Convair 240The Convair CV-240 was an American airliner produced by Convair from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement of the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. While featuring a more modern design, the 240 series was able to make some inroads as a commercial airliner and also had a long development cycle...
(N91237) had an engine problem on take-off. It attempted to return to the airport, but lost altitude and was force landed in a salt water lagoon some 2 miles short of the runway. Though the aircraft was written off, the two crew and one passenger were uninjured. - On 4 April 2001, Douglas DC-3ADouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
N19BA of Roblex AviationRoblex AviationRoblex Aviation is a cargo airline based in Puerto Rico. This airline started flying in 1997 throughout the Caribbean and surrounding areas. The airline has two bases in Puerto Rico, one at San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and another at the former Air Force base in Aguadilla,...
ditched in the sea after suffering a double engine failure while on a local training flight. Both crew escaped. Damage to the aircraft was described as minor. - On May 9, 2004, an American EagleAmerican Eagle AirlinesAmerican Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
Super ATR, flight 5401American Eagle Flight 5401American Eagle Flight 5401 was a flight between Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan....
, crash-landed when one of the tires popped. Seventeen people were injured, but no fatalities. - On 26 April 2009, Douglas DC-3C N136FS of Four Star Air Cargo was damaged beyond economic repair when a fire broke out in the cockpit. The aircraft was taxiing for take-off on a mail flight to Cyril E. King AirportCyril E. King Airport-Cargo:*Ameriflight *Four Star Aviation*FedEx-Accidents and incidents:On December 28, 1970, Trans Caribbean Airways Flight 505 made a hard landing and ran off the side of the runway. Two of the 48 passengers died in the subsequent fire....
, Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands-Education:St. Thomas-St. John School District serves the community. and Charlotte Amalie High School serve the area.-Gallery:-See also:* Anna's Retreat* Cruz Bay* Saint Thomas* Water Island-External links:* *...
. - On March 30, 2010, an M&N AviationM&N AviationM&N Aviation is a Puerto Rican Air Charter airline located at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. The airline was founded in 1993.-Fleet details:*1 - Beechcraft 1900*1 - Cessna CitationJet 525A*1 - Cessna CitationJet CJ3...
Short 330 (N106SW), with three people on board, was landing on runway 10 when its nose wheel collapsed.
In popular culture
- In the 1982 movie Conexión Caribe, music group Los ChicosLos ChicosLos Chicos was a popular boy band in Puerto Rico, created to rival Menudo's success.The band was created by Eric Laboy in 1978 to 1985, with the name Encuentro. Due to a political campaign slogan, the name was changed to Los Chicos, which translates to The Kids. They enjoyed huge success during the...
arrived at the Luis Muňoz Marín International Airport from the Dominican RepublicDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on board an OceanairOceanairOceanair was an airline that used to fly out of Puerto Rico. It competed on domestic routes with Prinair, and on routes to the Virgin Islands with Prinair, and with Aero Virgin Islands, using propeller airplanes....
airplane. - Music group MenudoMenudo (band)Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
recorded a music video for their song "Claridad", in 1981 at the nearby Isla Verde Beach in Piňones. A Lockheed L-1011 aircraft is seen landing at Luis Muňoz Marín International Airport in the video. - The airport is seen in several scenes of action film Illegal TenderIllegal TenderIllegal Tender is the first EP by the alternative rock group Louis XIV. It was released on January 21, 2005, and features the band's first single, "Finding Out True Love Is Blind," which was also included on the band's first album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, released later in 2005.-Track...
, where a Puerto Rican youngster flies to the country from the United States several times.