Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958 when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport, Munich, Bavaria, West Germany.
On the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes", along with supporters and journalists.[1] 20 of the 44 on the aircraft died at the scene. Three more died at a Munich hospital, resulting in 23 fatalities with 21 survivors.
An investigation said that the crash was caused by the slush on the runway, which slowed the plane too much to take off.
Deaths
Crew members
- Captain Kenneth "Ken" Rayment. Co-pilot. Died in hospital five weeks later as a result of brain damage.
Passengers
Manchester United players
- Geoff Bent
- Roger Byrne
- Eddie Colman
- Duncan Edwards (survived the crash, but died in hospital 15 days later)
- Mark Jones
- David Pegg
- Tommy Taylor
- Billy Whelan
Manchester United staff
- Walter Crickmer, club secretary
- Tom Curry, trainer
- Bert Whalley, chief coach
Journalists
- Frank Swift, News of the World (also former England and Manchester City goalkeeper; died on his way to hospital)
- Donny Davies, Manchester Guardian
Munich Air Disaster Media
- Error missing media source
American newsreel footage reporting the crash
- Gedenkkreuz.JPG
Memorial cross at the Emplstraße in Munich
- Gedenkstein Manchester United Übersicht.JPG
Memorial stone at the Emplstraße / at the Manchesterplatz in Munich in remembrance of the Munich air disaster 06. Februrary 1958
- Munich Tunnel 2.jpg
Old Trafford's Munich Tunnel, renamed on the 50th anniversary of the disaster
- Scarves of Derby Day.jpg
Commemorative scarves laid out on the backs of seats before the 50th anniversary match at Old Trafford
Display at the National Football Museum
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