The Munich air disaster was a tragic plane crash on 6 February 1958, when a charter flight carrying Manchester United’s young team, the “Busby Babes,” crashed during takeoff from Munich-Riem Airport, killing 23 of the 44 people on board.

What happened in the Munich air disaster?

  • The flight was British European Airways Flight 609, returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade with Manchester United players, staff, journalists, and other passengers.
  • The plane stopped in Munich to refuel, where snow and slush were building up on the runway in winter conditions.
  • Two take‑off attempts were abandoned because of engine “surges” and concerns about power.
  • On the third attempt, the aircraft accelerated but hit heavy slush toward the end of the runway, which slowed it so much that it could not reach safe flying speed.
  • The plane overran the runway, burst through a fence, crossed a road, hit a house, and then struck a building containing a fuel truck and tyres, triggering a major explosion and fire.

Casualties and survivors

  • There were 44 people on board; 20 died at the scene and three more in hospital, bringing the total to 23 deaths.
  • Eight Manchester United players were killed, along with club staff, journalists, and members of the crew.
  • Twenty‑one people survived, including a few players and staff who later became central figures in the club’s rebuilding.

Why did the crash happen?

  • An early investigation in West Germany initially blamed pilot error, suggesting the captain failed to de‑ice the wings properly.
  • A later inquiry by the UK Board of Trade in 1969 cleared the pilots and concluded that slush on the runway was the critical factor: it reduced the aircraft’s acceleration, causing the speed to fall from about 117 knots to about 105 knots, too low for takeoff and too late to abort.
  • This finding shifted responsibility from the crew to the runway conditions and highlighted how poorly understood slush hazards were at the time.

Impact on Manchester United and football

  • The disaster is remembered as the “darkest day” in Manchester United’s history, abruptly cutting down a young side that had dominated English football and was chasing European glory.
  • The tragedy reshaped the club’s identity around resilience and remembrance; rebuilding under Sir Matt Busby and later success are often seen as a tribute to those who died.
  • Each year, especially on 6 February, fans, media, and football communities reflect on the event, keeping it a continuing topic in history features, podcasts, and long‑form articles rather than a “latest news” story.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.