Friday, January 13, 2012

Air Florida Flight 90

Thirty years ago today during a blizzard, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River on takeoff from Washington National Airport. It clipped the 14th Street Bridge on the way down, killing four people in their cars.

That bridge is now named for Arland D. Williams, Jr. He was a passenger on the flight; he declined rescue in order to help other people to safety which cost him his life. Another man, Lenny Skutnik, took off his coat and boots and jumped into the river to save one of the passengers. Both gentlemen were awarded the Coast Guard's Gold Lifesaving Medal.

Aircraft deicing procedures were changed as a result of the crash.
on or about

2 comments:

  1. bob1/13/2012 7:14 PM

    The awarding of the United States Coast Guard Gold Lifesaving Medal is even rarer than the awarding of the CMH, only 600 have been awarded since it inception.

    I was honored to be asked by a young man (Ryan Newhall) who I had the privilege to work with to attend the ceremony in which he was awarded the USCG Gold Lifesaving Medal for his actions in 2002 in the Bering Sea in the loss of the MV Galaxy.

    There was not a dry eye in the room as the citation was read.

    Individuals who receive this award are a very remarkable rare breed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. montag1/13/2012 7:15 PM

    And the FAA still practices tombstone regulation.

    ReplyDelete

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