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On February 6th 1958 Manchester United were returning back home from a European game, all 44 people including flight crew and the Manchester United team including journalists were on board British European Airways flight 609.

The Munich-Riem Airport in West Germany was covered in snow, the airport ground staff had cleared some of the snow and slush from the runway however back in 1958 they did not have specialist equipment or treatments like we have now which made things very tricky for planes taking off and landing.

ATC (Air Traffic Control) gave the captain permission to take off, the Busby Babes and others on board got prepared and everything seemed normal until the captain aborted take off, the aircraft turned around and tried again and again the captain aborted take off, on the third go the plane got to near take off speed when it hit slush reducing speed slid of the runway and crashed killing 20 instantly.

Another 3 died on the way to hospital, news of the crash shocked not only Manchester United fans but fans of all teams world wide, gratefully with the grace of god 20 people survived.

Manchester United players who died were:

  • Geoff Bent
  • Eddie Coleman
  • Roger Byrne
  • Mark Jones
  • David Pegg
  • Tommy Taylor
  • Billy Whelan
  • Duncan Edwards (Died around 2 weeks in hospital)

Manchester United staff:

  • Walter Crickmer (Club secratery)
  • Tom Curry
  • Bert Whalley (Coach)

Others died in the air crash included Journalists:

  • Frank Swift who played for Manchester City (News of the world)
  • Donny Davis (Manchester Guardian)

Those that survived the air crash:

  • Harry Gregg (2020)
  • Bobby Charlton (2023)
  • Bill Foulkes (2013)
  • kenny Morgans (2012)
  • Albert Scanlon (2009)
  • Ray Wood (2002)
  • Jackie Blanchflower (1998)
  • Dennis Viollet (1999)
  • Johnny Berry (1994)

Manager Sir Matt Busby (1994)

Journalist Frank Taylor (2002) News Chronicle

The memory of those that died will live forever they will never die in the hearts of Manchester United fans young and old where they come once a year to pay their respects to the flowers of Manchester.

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