Sabena Flight 548 crashed on landing approach to Brussels, Belgium, on February 15, 1961, killing all 72 persons on board as well as one person on the ground. The crash was the first one involving a Boeing 707 in regular service (three 707s had crashed previously during training or test flights). It was notable because the dead included the entire United States Figure Skating team who were en route to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
All 18 athletes of the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating team and several family members, coaches, and officials died in the crash. The dead included, most notably, former 9-time U.S. ladies champion Maribel Vinson-Owen and her two daughters, reigning U.S. ladies champion Laurence Owen, reigning U.S. pairs champions Maribel Y. Owen and her partner Dudley Richards, reigning U.S. men champion Bradley Lord, U.S. men silver medalist Gregory Kelley, U.S. women silver medalist Stephanie Westerfeld and U.S. dance champions Diane C. Sherbloom and Larry Pierce. The loss of the U.S. team was considered so catastrophic for the sport that the 1961 World Championships were cancelled.
No comments:
Post a Comment