Manchester United were the first Englishfootball club to play in Europe, and by
early 1958, the team had reached their
second consecutive semi-final in the
UEFA European Cup competition.
Returning from an away game with Red
Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia (now Serbia), the young squad known as the Busby
Babes were onboard BEA Flight 609 at
Munich-Riem Airport in West Germany.
Just after 3pm on Thursday, February
6th, the Airspeed Ambassador aircraft
attempted it's third take-off, but slush
now covered the runway.
The plane skidded and lost the
adequate speed to achieve take-off -
it ploughed through fencing, and
collided with a house, before breaking-up and catching fire.
Twenty-three passengers and crew perished, including eight United
players - the club coach, Matt Busby survived with twenty others.
United's depleted team completed that season in ninth place, but still
progressed to the FA Cup and European Cup finals. Busby would
eventually build a second generation of 'Babes' and he remained club
manager until 1969. Manchester United became the first British club
to win the European Cup in 1968.
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