MUNICH — 1958 · Major Tragedy

The Munich Air Disaster — Manchester United

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 6 February 1958, British European Airways Flight 609, carrying the Manchester United team home from a European Cup match in Belgrade, crashed on its third attempt to take off after refuelling at Munich-Riem Airport. The aircraft ploughed through slush at the end of the runway, crossed a fence and struck a house. Of the 44 people aboard, 20 died at the scene and three more in hospital. The dead included eight players of the young side known as the 'Busby Babes', club staff and journalists. German authorities blamed wing icing and held the captain responsible; a British inquiry concluded in 1969 that slush on the runway was the cause and cleared him.

Date: 1958
Place: Riem Airport, Germany, Munich, DE
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 48.1340, 11.6950 ↗

Timeline of Events

5 February 1958Manchester United reached the semi-finals in Belgrade.
6 February 1958The plane crashed on its third take-off attempt; 23 people died.

21 February 1958Injured player Duncan Edwards died in hospital.
1969A British inquiry blamed runway slush and cleared the captain.

Sources

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