The Morning News: Air Florida Crash Remembered
Washington Post file photo of the 1982 Air Florida crash at the 14th Street Bridge
DRIVING ACROSS THE 14TH STREET BRIDGE today, you can't really tell that a plane taking off from National Airport ever crashed into it during the afternoon rush hour and sunk into the icy Potomac River, killing 78 people. Four of those killed were in their cars on the bridge, stuck in traffic during a snowstorm. Twenty-five years ago tomorrow, a dramatic rescue operation played out within view of the Jefferson Memorial and Pentagon following the crash of Air Florida Flight 90, which investigators blamed on improper de-icing and communication problems inside the cockpit.
Today, one of the 14th Street bridges between the District and Virginia is named for Arland Williams Jr., one of the Air Florida passengers who initially survived the crash but lost his life trying to save other passengers floating in the river.
The Post's Del Quentin Wilber looks back on that fateful flight and its lasting impacts today:
Though some of the lessons may seem simple, such as communication and management skills, it helped break down an authoritarian cockpit culture dominated by captains. Over time, the principles learned from the disaster gradually migrated to other modes of transportation and into businesses, even hospitals.» "Air Florida Flight 90" [Wikipedia]
» "14th Street Bridge, the Air Florida Crash, and Subway Disaster" [Roads to the Future]
» "A Crash's Improbable Impact" [WaPo]
What else is making news on this Friday, Jan. 12, 2007? Let's get to it.
» METRO: "Investigation Widens to Similar Cases With Same Car Model" [WaPo]
» FOGGY BOTTOM: "Sen. Tim Johnson Out of Intensive Care" [AP via WaPo]
» CAMERON RUN: "Huntington Flood Study Blames Sediment Buildup" [WaPo]
» ANNAPOLIS: "Statewide Smoking Ban Likely" [Baltimore Sun]
» RICHMOND: "Conservatives, Activists Vow to Fight More Taxes" [WaPo]
» RICHMOND: "Could 'Photo Red' be Headed Back to Va.?" [AP via WTOP]
» STADIUM-ARMORY: "Official: Boys and Girls Club in Southeast May Close After Review" [Examiner]
» U STREET NW: "For Lincoln Theatre, City's Grant of $200,000 a 'Good Band-Aid,' Official Says" [WaPo]
» ADAMS MORGAN: "Public Help Sought in Slaying of Woman" [WaPo]
Photo of Cameron Run flooding from June 2006 by Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post
» MORE NEWS AND VIEWS, as always, are available at washingtonpost.com, Washington Post Radio and Slate.
COMING UP LATER TODAY on ReadExpress.com ...
» We'll preview Saturday's important men's basketball game between Georgetown and Pittsburgh. Can the Hoyas get back on track?
» Do you play in a cover band that claims its the real deal? Virginia's cracking down on musicians who deceive their audiences.
» Director David Lynch tells Express that your "girlfriend is gonna fall in love with" his new movie, "Inland Empire."
» We chat with Silver Spring native Niels Hoven and take a look at his path to success from The Post's Style Invitational to the CW's "Beauty and the Geek."
» Yes, yes, yes! M'Dawg Haute Dogs is opening on Monday!
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