The Flowers of Manchester: Remembering the Munich Air Disaster

February 6, 1958 — 3:04 PM

Sixty-eight years ago today, at 3:04 PM on a grey, slush-covered afternoon in Munich, British European Airways Flight 609 failed to gain altitude on its third takeoff attempt from Munich-Riem Airport. The Airspeed Ambassador tore through the perimeter fence, struck a house and a fuel storage hut, and broke apart. Twenty-three people would not survive. Among the dead were eight of the finest young footballers England had ever produced.