Definition
To make a forced or precautionary landing of an aircraft on water.
Plain English
Putting the airplane down on water on purpose because you can't make it to a runway.
Context Anchor
Used in emergency planning, navigation, and overwater flight discussions, especially when part of the route crosses water.
Derivation
From the older sense of 'ditch' meaning to abandon or get rid of something. In aviation it came to mean putting the aircraft down on water when no land option remains -- treating the airplane as something you commit to leaving once it's down.
Why Pilots Care
Correct ditching technique greatly improves the chances of a survivable landing and successful evacuation when overwater flight becomes impossible.
Intuition Check
Do not read “ditch” here as casually abandoning the airplane or landing in a roadside ditch. In aviation, it specifically means making an emergency landing on water.
Example Sentence 1
With both engines out and no shoreline within glide range, the crew prepared to ditch the aircraft.
Example Sentence 2
The crew reviewed ditching procedures before crossing the ocean to ensure everyone knew the steps if an emergency occurred.