60 years ago today, Manchester United lost almost the whole of it’s first team personnel when a plane carrying the team home crashed while taking off at Munich.
We take a look at some of the facts from that fatal Munich Air Disaster on February 6, 1958.
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The crash happened while taking off from the Munich airport when the United team were returning home after a European Cup victory over Red Star Belgrade. The plane had stopped to refuel at Munich.
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The plane crashed on its third attempt to take off – the first two attempts being abandoned due to a series of engine troubles.
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At first, the crash was blamed on pilot error, but it was later found to have been caused by slush towards the end of the runway.
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23 people lost their lives in that tragic incident out of which there were eight United players as well as three club officials.
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Eight journalists, two crew members, two other passengers and a travel agent also lost their lives in the Munich Air Disaster.
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United put out a team just 13 days after the Munich Air Disaster when they stepped out to play Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup fifth round in front of almost 60,000 fans.
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United won the game 3-0 and it featured Munich Air Disaster survivor Harry Gregg.
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Manchester United’s manager Sir Matt Busby was badly injured and was given the last rites on two occasions. But the legendary manager went on to make a great recovery.
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United won the FA Cup five years after the Munich Air Disaster and the domestic league title in 1965 and 1967.
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United became the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968 – just ten years after the crash.