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. 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

A plaque at Old Trafford in memory of the Munich air disaster

The Munich Clock, on the southeast corner of Old Trafford

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