Air Florida Flight 90 facts for kids

Air Florida Flight 90 was a regular passenger flight in the United States. On January 13, 1982, a Boeing 737-200 airplane, flying from Washington National Airport to Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport, crashed. The plane hit the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River.

The plane had been bought by United Airlines in 1969. It was later sold to Air Florida in 1980.

The Crash

The accident happened during a snowstorm. The plane took off from Washington National Airport. Soon after takeoff, it hit the 14th Street Bridge. This bridge connects Washington, D.C. and Arlington County, Virginia.

The plane crashed into seven cars on the bridge. It also destroyed about 97 feet (30 meters) of the bridge's guard rail. After hitting the bridge, the plane plunged through the ice into the freezing Potomac River.

The crash happened very close to important landmarks. It was less than two miles (3 kilometers) from the White House. It was also visible from the Jefferson Memorial and The Pentagon.

Survivors and Heroes

There were 74 passengers and five crew members on the plane. Sadly, most people on board died. However, four passengers and one flight attendant survived the crash. They were rescued from the icy river.

One passenger, Arland D. Williams, Jr., was a true hero. He helped other survivors get to safety. He passed a lifeline to others before he could be rescued himself. Sadly, he drowned before rescuers could reach him. Four people in cars on the bridge also died.

Many brave people helped rescue the survivors. Both ordinary citizens and trained professionals worked together. They pulled people from the freezing water.

A few days later, President Ronald Reagan praised these heroic actions. He spoke about them during his State of the Union speech.

Cause of the Accident

Investigators looked into what caused the crash. They found that the main reason was pilot error. The pilots did not properly prepare the plane for takeoff in icy conditions. This led to the tragic accident.

Images for kids

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  NTSB diagram showing the flight path of Air Florida Flight 90.

See also

In Spanish: Vuelo 90 de Air Florida para niños