Washington's first airline crash

[resqgeek]

Tomorrow marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the crash of Air Florida flight 90 in the Potomac River on a cold, snowy afternoon. The plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, which carries I-395 and US 1 into Washington, DC just north of National Airport, shortly after take off. Seventy passengers, four crew members, and four motorist on the bridge were killed. The subsequent investigation indicated that the crash was the result of improper de-icing of the plane.

I remember watching the footage of the efforts to rescue the few victims who were found floating in the frigid water afterward. The U.S. Park Police made a valiant effort to use their helicopter (which was not equipped for rescue work) and a floatation ring on a rope to pull the survivors to shore. During my years as a volunteer EMT in this area, I had the opportunity to talk to several people who responded to that crash as part of the various emergency response agencies.

On the front page of today's Washington Post is an article discussing the wide ranging reforms that have resulted from the investigation of that crash. In particular, the article focuses on improvements in cockpit culture and crew communications, and notes that these lessons have been adopted well beyond the aviation industry, including other high risk environments such as surgery. Apparently, this crash is regularly dissected as part of the curriculum in aviation oriented schools, to train the future engineers and pilots the importance of cooperation and communication in airline safety.

[the article via MSNBC.com]

Comments

[suellenr.livejournal.com]

I remember that day well. We had a snow day from school so it was all anyone had to do (watch/listen).

The FD I'm now a member of actually had their heavy rescue squad respond-we were the only thing south of the Beltway for many years.

[bookczuk.livejournal.com]

I remember-- they triaged some of us from NIH to go help.