An air tragedy shook football when Manchester United suffered an accident in 1958, leaving an indelible legacy in the history of sport.
The Munich tragedy was captured in the history of world football
Air tragedies marked various sports throughout history, leaving deep traces. One of the most remembered episodes was the one that occurred in Munich, that saddened world football upon finding out that the team Manchester United suffered an accident after qualifying for the semifinals of the Champions League.
What should have been a moment of celebration turned into a nightmare for the players, coaching staff, journalists and flight crew. The 1958 accident left 23 dead of the 44 passengers who returned home with what was supposed to be joy.
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The Munich disaster, the plane crash that cost the lives of 23 people
On February 6, 1958, Manchester United had just secured a place in the semi-finals of the European Cup, after drawing 3-3 against Red Star of Belgrade. Despite the excitement over the result, the team’s return home turned into a tragedy. The plane they were traveling on crashed during a stopover in Munich, killing 23 people, including eight team players.
The team of “Busby Babes”, as they were known, was led by Matt Busbywho had excited everyone with the team he formed that season. Among its most notable players was Bobby Charltonwho survived the accident and would later become a football legend. However, others like Duncan Edwards They did not have the same luck. Edwards fought for his life for 15 days, but was unable to overcome his injuries from the accident.
The accident occurred after several failed takeoff attempts. Finally, at 3:04 p.m., the plane crashed after failing to gain sufficient speed due to a mix of factors that included adverse weather conditions and possible runway failures. Among the survivors was the heroic archer Harry Gregg, who returned to the burning plane to save several of his companions.
Regarding the investigation of the accident, the pilot of the plane, James Thain, was initially identified as the person responsible. However, Thain always maintained his innocence, stating that the real cause had been the accumulation of mud on the runway, which prevented the plane from reaching the speed necessary to take off. His fight to clear his name lasted more than a decade, although he was never allowed to work again.
In it Old Trafford At the Manchester United stadium, a clock stops its hands at 3:04 p.m., the exact time of the accident, as a permanent tribute to the victims. A statue was also built in honor of Matt Busby who after surviving the accident, led the club to win the European Cup in 1968, an achievement that many saw as a tribute to those who lost their lives in 1958.
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Source: Ambito
