The Munich Air Disaster
On February 6, 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United football team, known as the "Busby Babes," crashed at Munich-Riem Airport. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 23 people, including eight players.
The team, captained by Roger Byrne, was returning to Manchester after a European Cup match in Belgrade.
The Flight and Crash Details
The flight made a scheduled stopover in Munich, Germany, for refueling. After two aborted take-off attempts due to engine issues, the pilots decided to make a third. At 3:03 PM, during this third attempt, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient speed.
This failure was attributed to slush on the runway. The plane skidded off the runway, crashed into nearby houses, split apart, and caught fire.
Casualties and Heroism
Among the 23 fatalities were seven Manchester United players: Roger Byrne, Geoff Bent, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, and Billy Whelan. Duncan Edwards, another player, succumbed to his injuries two weeks later.
Roger Byrne's wife was pregnant at the time; their son, Roger Junior, was born eight months later.
Goalkeeper Harry Gregg performed heroic actions, assisting in the rescue of several survivors, including teammates Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet, as well as a pregnant woman and her child.
Manager Matt Busby was among the 21 survivors, though he sustained severe injuries.
Legacy and Rebuilding Manchester United
The disaster significantly impacted Manchester United. Despite the profound loss, the club displayed remarkable resilience. In their first match following the crash, they secured a 3-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, and went on to reach the FA Cup final and the European Cup semi-finals that season.
Under Matt Busby's leadership, the club gradually rebuilt. They finished second in the league the following season, won the FA Cup in 1963, and the league title in 1964/65.
A decade after the Munich disaster, in 1968, Manchester United, with survivors like Bobby Charlton, won the European Cup, achieving a long-held ambition and honoring those lost.