37 Years Ago 156 People Died In Michigan’s Deadliest Plane Crash
We're slowly learning more details about America's deadliest plane crash in almost 25 years that happened last night.
According to the Associated Press a jet with 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter with 3 crew members while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., sending the two aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River and killing everyone on board.
⬇️ See More Below: Washington DC Plane Crash ⬇️
Michigan sadly has a tragic connection to plane crashes, 37 years ago Northwest flight 255 bound for Arizona from Detroit crashed moments after taking off.
This is a look back to Michigan's deadliest plane crash.
(Some images and videos in this story might not be appropriate for young kids)
37 Years Ago 155 People Died In Michigan's Deadliest Plane Crash
On the evening of August 16th, 1987 Northwest flight 255 took off from Detroit Metro Airport heading to Arizona.
Tragically, the flight crashed shortly after take-off around 8:46 PM resulting in the deaths of all six crew members and 148 of its 149 passengers, along with two people on the ground.
Miraculously, there was one survivor from the plane crash.
The Sole Survivor From The Crash Of Northwest Flight 255
According to Wikipedia, a Romulus fireman found four-year-old Cecelia Cichan from Tempe, Arizona still belted in her seat, which was face down.
She was found several feet from the bodies of her mother, father, and six-year-old brother.
She sustained severe burns and fractures to her skull, collarbone, and left leg but lived and was able to recover.
Tweleve years ago, she gave her first public interview following the crash.
What Caused The Crash Of Northwest Flight 255?
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use the taxi checklist to ensure that the flaps and slats were extended for takeoff.
Contributing to the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane takeoff warning system, which did not warn the flight crew that the airplane was not configured properly for takeoff.
The reason for the absence of electrical power could not be determined.
Flight 255 Memorial Was Created In 1994
In memory of the victims, a black granite memorial was erected in 1994; it stands at the top of the hill at Middlebelt Road and I-94, the site of the crash.
The memorial has a dove with a ribbon in its beak reading, "Their spirit still lives on"; below it are the names of those who perished in the crash.
Watch: A Look Back At The 30th Anniversary of Flight 255 Crash
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