3 Air disasters that shook the football world

#1 Manchester United (February 6, 1958)

The site of the Munich Air Disaster, Inset - Manchester United players (Image credits - The Sun)

The Munich air disaster is dubbed as one of the most horrific accidents in the history of association football. There were 44 people present on board but only 21 survived the crash.

Also present on the plane was the Manchester United football team or the youthful "Busby Babes," as they were known at the time due to the average age of players being just 24.

The team was returning from the city of Belgrade, having successfully defeated Red Star Belgrade to enter the semifinal of the European Cup. The plane had stopped in Munich for a refuel.

The runway was covered with a layer of slush due to snowfall. As a result, the aircraft crossed the fence beyond the runway and crashed after its left wing hit a house. This was the third attempt to take off after two failed attempts.

Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, and Liam "Billy" Whelan were the Manchester United players who lost their lives. 3 members of the Red Devils' staff and 8 journalists were also among the deceased.

Initially, pilot error was blamed for the crash but it was later found that slush at the end of the runway had prevented the aircraft from reaching the safe flying speed.

Memorials to remember the lost lives during the horrific incident still stand at Old Trafford, Munich, and Belgrade.