The Munich Air Disaster: A Tragedy That Shook Football
On 6 February 1958, the world of football was left in mourning as British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third take-off attempt at Munich-Riem Airport. The disaster took the lives of 23 passengers, including eight Manchester United players, journalists, and club staff, cutting short the promise of one of England’s most exciting young teams.
A Journey Filled with Promise
Manchester United’s squad, dubbed the 'Busby Babes', had travelled to Belgrade for the second leg of their European Cup quarter-final against Red Star Belgrade. Their performance in the competition had captivated football fans, and after securing a 3-3 draw (winning 5-4 on aggregate), they had booked their place in the semi-finals for the second successive season. Spirits were high among the squad as they set off for home.
Their return journey required a refuelling stop in Munich. While the aircraft was being prepared for departure, the team and journalists relaxed in the terminal. Some players went shopping for gifts, while others engaged in friendly banter. A few even broke into song, with Dean Martin’s "Baby, It’s Cold Outside" being a particularly fitting choice given the snowfall outside.
Eddie Colman and David Pegg, two of United’s most promising young players, were particularly spirited, playfully hurling snowballs at each other on the tarmac. Just hours later, both would be among the victims of the crash.
Johnny Berry was busy in the airport toy shop, winding up mechanical cars to pick out presents for his three young sons. Duncan Edwards, widely regarded as one of the greatest young footballers England had ever produced, sat in quiet reflection. Bobby Charlton, Dennis Viollet, and Harry Gregg—each key members of the squad—relaxed with hot drinks.
A Fateful Attempt
The aircraft, an Airspeed AS57 Ambassador known as 'The Elizabethan', had already failed two take-off attempts due to engine 'surging'. Passengers, including manager Matt Busby and star players Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards, had reluctantly returned to the terminal to wait. Some discussed the idea of staying overnight in Munich, but the order soon came for them to board once again.
Nobody, though, challenged the decision to make a third attempt. Busby wanted the players to get back to Manchester so they could have a full day’s rest before playing Wolves that Saturday. The pilot, James Thain, had been given the clearance to try again and, if any of the passengers thought it was crazy, nobody had the gumption to speak up. As Gregg would later say: “Sometimes it takes a brave man to be a coward.”
Instead, the players were counted back on, one by one, and at 2.59pm a radio message crackled up to the control tower: “Are we cleared?”
On board, there was a mix of bravado and butterflies. Pegg, a brilliant, elusive left winger who had tormented Real Madrid in the previous season’s European Cup semi-finals, announced he did not want to play cards anymore. “I don’t like it here, it’s not safe,” he said, moving to the rear of the plane to find a seat near Colman.
“That’s right, lads, this is the safest end,” Swift called out.
Byrne, United’s captain, did not like flying at the best of times. He tried to make light out of it and joked that it was “all or nothing now.” Berry, another reluctant flyer, seemed gripped by fear.
Gregg, experiencing his own sense of foreboding, tried to crack a few jokes. He had a copy of a book called The Whip, a titillating piece of fiction that was regarded at the time as a bit risqué. “It was playing on my conscience,” he would say. “I thought, ‘If anything happens here and I’m reading this, it is straight to hell for me’.”
As the third attempt began, the plane gained speed along the icy runway. At 117 knots, Captain James Thain called out "V1"—the point of no return. The aircraft needed just a few more knots to achieve take-off, but the speed dropped instead of increasing. "Christ," the co-pilot Kenneth Rayment exclaimed, "We aren’t going to make it."
Staring out of the window, Charlton could see field after field flashing past. He knew this could not continue. In the cabin, fear began to set in. Liam Whelan, a devout Catholic, accepted his fate with the haunting words: "If this is death, I am ready for it."
The aircraft careered off the end of the runway, ploughed through a fence, and crashed into a house where a woman, Anna Winkler, and her three children barely managed to escape. The left wing was torn off, fuel tanks ruptured, and a fireball erupted. The aircraft finally came to a stop, broken into pieces, its once sleek form now unrecognisable.
The Aftermath of the Munich Air Disaster
The silence following the crash was eerie. Survivors lay scattered across the snow, dazed, injured, and struggling to comprehend what had happened.
Harry Gregg, Manchester United’s goalkeeper, quickly regained his senses and sprang into action. He pulled 22-month-old Vesna Lukic, the child of a Yugoslav diplomat, from the wreckage. He also rescued her mother, Vera, and went back in for his teammates, dragging Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet to safety. His heroism in those moments earned him the title "The Hero of Munich".
Harry Gregg obituary: the reluctant hero of the Munich air disaster
Bill Foulkes, another survivor, recalled: "I felt a sickening thud… and then another one, and then another one, and then a terrific crash and then we were spinning all over the place."
Frank Taylor, the only journalist among the nine aboard to survive, later described the devastation: "Less than a minute previously, I had been sitting in the company of the young kings of British soccer. Now they lay dead or dying."
The Victims
Eight Manchester United players perished in the disaster:
Geoff Bent (25) – Left-back, travelling as cover for Roger Byrne.
Roger Byrne (28) – Club captain, a key figure in the Busby Babes and England international.
Eddie Colman (21) – Wing-half, renowned for his 'snake hips' dribbling.
Duncan Edwards (21) – One of England’s greatest young talents, died from his injuries 15 days later.
Mark Jones (24) – Centre-half, known for his strong defensive abilities.
David Pegg (22) – Outside-left, a skilful winger.
Tommy Taylor (26) – Prolific centre-forward, one of England’s top strikers.
Liam Whelan (22) – Inside-forward, a devout Catholic and talented goalscorer.
Three club staff also died:
Walter Crickmer (58) – Club secretary and key figure in youth development.
Tom Curry (63) – Trainer, a beloved figure among the squad.
Bert Whalley (44) – Chief trainer, known for his work with young players.
Additionally, eight journalists lost their lives, including former England goalkeeper Frank Swift, Henry Rose of the Daily Express, and Archie Ledbrooke of the Daily Mirror. Other victims included co-pilot Kenneth Rayment, steward Tom Cable, and Manchester United supporter Willie Satinoff.
Legacy
The Munich Air Disaster remains one of football’s most tragic moments, a disaster that not only shook Manchester United but also the entire sporting world. The players who died were on the cusp of greatness, their lives cut short just as they were beginning to make history.
Each year, United fans, players, and the wider football community remember those who perished. At Old Trafford, the Munich clock stands still at 3:04 pm, a permanent memorial to the moment that changed the club forever.
Matt Busby sends a message to Old Trafford from a Munich hospital whilst still recovering from injuries sustained in the crash
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