Potomac River Crash Revives Sad Memories
The crash of two planes in the Potomac River near Reagan International Airport revived memories of a similar crash which had a profound effect on South Florida. In January 1982, an Air Florida plane attempting to take off in bad weather from the same airport crashed into the 14th Street Bridge and wound up in the freezing Potomac. The loss of life was 74 passengers and aircrew and several people on the bridge. The accident was the beginning of the end for Air Florida, based in Miami. Aside from the aircrew, the flight was headed to Fort Lauderdale and many of the dead had local connections. Air Florida began as a local airline but had expanded into international service. After a slow start, the airline had several highly profitable years and its future seemed promising. But the investigations blamed the crash on pilot error - trying to take off with icy wings and poor pilot response to the emergency. 78 people, including a few on the bridge, died. Only five people survived. It was devastating publicly and Air Florida bookings took a dive and several years later it went bankrupt and was sold in distress.
Photos such as this ran around the country, dooming Air Florida.
Almost everybody in South Florida knew some of the hundreds of employees based here. Our own connection was a charming young woman fresh out of college who went from working almost free for an obscure local publication to the attractive job of PR Director for Air Florida. It was she who arranged for us to take a very pleasant press trip to Ireland as part of the celebration when Air Florida introduced European flights. Oddly enough, our friend got favorable publicity for the professional way she handled the crisis and went on to build her own PR firm in New York, specializing in crisis management.
A slightly happy ending to a tragic story.
Regan International Airport
This Comment had been Posted by Joseph V Gallagher Jr
I have flown large aircraft in and out of there many times. A very demanding airport with little margin for error. Many of us thought it should have been closed to large aircraft years ago. An extremely congested flight corridor and noise abatement issues. To easy for congressmen to fly home. It will never close. They won’t go to Dulles International Airport.