today is a sad anniversary in my town

[isabeau]

today is the anniversary of when, in the early seventies, a plane crashed at tri state airport, killing all on board. this included most of the Marshall football players and many alumni. the Marshall football team, what was left, was utterly devastated and had to rebuild. there is now a plaque honoring these people here in huntington. i dont know if anyone remembers that event. but it took many friends and family away. including a good friend of mine, who lost both his parents.

isabeau

 

[mrfrench58]

Yes, I remember this horrible incident. I think it was in 1970.

Any plane crash is awful, but to wipe out an entire group like this is almost unspeakable.

I recall the shock in central New York when the jetliner was blown up over Lockerbie. There were several young people on board who were attending Syracuse and Cornell and that cast a pall over the area. I can't even imagine what it had to be like for those at Marshall when this happened.

 

[isabeau]

yes i remember that crash also. the lockerbee crash. so sad, and yes every plane crash is sad. the pilot for the marshall plane was young and rather inexperienced, plus it was a dark rainy night, and tri state airport is on a mountain side surrounded by trees. he missed altogether and crashed in the trees. i never fly out of tri state, because of that crash, although of course now things are much improved, i prefer to fly out of yeager in charleston, although it also is on a mountaintop.

isabeau

last time we flew was in october and i was sitting by the window, looking down at the ocean far below, i envisioned myself being blown out the window and freefalling to my death. i asked david to change places with me. eeks how selfish can one get? lol

 

[sole seeker]

I'm sorry to read of your loss, Isabeau. No wonder you don't like to fly.

Personally, I'm not fond of flying - but primarily because of the hassle getting through checkpoints, etc. I'm not usually nervous in the air.

 

[amk714]

I wasn't alive in 1970, so I didn't know about that plane crash (I had to look it up on the web), but I do know about Lockerbie. To me, flying is like any other form of transportation: whether you drive, fly, sail, or ride, there's always a risk (however small) that something might go wrong. You have to put it out of your mind, and be ready in case it does. Don't let fear consume you, Isabeau, and be glad you have someone to help you out. Take care. 🙂