Today 6th February,2021 marks the 63rd anniversary of a very tragic day in world football. 63 years ago in 1958 at 3:04 pm, around 44 people died in a tragic air crash at the Munich-Reim Airport in West Germany. The flight was on its way from Belgrade, Yugoslavia and was making its way back to Manchester,England. The plane had landed at Munich for a refuel. That flight would never take off again.
After 2 failed attempts of take off, the British European Flight 609 crashed on the runway in the third attempt. The plane was carrying back Manchester United football team nicknamed the "Busby Babes" along with supporters and journalists. United had just advanced to the Semi Finals of the European Cup by beating Red Star Belgrade.
20 people died at the incident while 2 more died in the hospital taking the fatality count up to 23. Fearing that they might fall behind the schedule, Captain Thain rejected an overnight stay. It took him 10 years to get his name cleared in 1968 as some faithful still accuse him for his mistake that cost this tragedy.
United were nicknamed the "Busby Babes" after manager Sir Matt Bubsy had created a team only of United academy products and not a single transfer player. They were looking to win a third successive league title. Their season was completely derailed but were offered help from both Liverpool and Manchester City in tough times.Real Madrid had also offered their star player Alfredo Di Stefano for free. Matt Bubsy who survived the crash would build another "Bubsy Babes" who would go on to win the European Cup in 1968.
People who lost their lives in this tragedy-
Crew-Captain Kenneth Rayment (Co Pilot)
Manchester United Players and staff
- Geoff Bent
- Roger Byrne
- Eddie Colman
- Duncan Edwards( Survived the crash,later died in the hospital due to injuries)
- Mark Jones
- David Pegg
- Tommy Taylor
- Billy Whelan
- Walter Crickmer
- Tom Curry
- Bret Whalley
- Journalist Frank Swift and Donny Davies
The Surviving members-
- Johnny Berry
- Jackie Blanchflower
- Sir Bobby Charlton(only living member as of 2021)
- Bill Foulkes
- Harry Gregg
- Kenny Morgans
- Albert Scanlon
- Dennis Viollet
- Ray Wood
- Sir Matt Busby
- Frank Tailor( Reporter)
- William Rodgers (Radio Officer)
- Captain Thain (Co Pilot)
Our tribute to the men we lost on that fateful afternoon in Munich, 63 years ago today.#FlowersOfManchester
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 6, 2021
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