Michigan marks 37 years since tragic Northwest Flight 255 crash in Romulus [View all]
I will always remember this tragic event because of the amazing survival of a 4 year old girl.
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Many still remember the tragedy that struck Michigan 37 years ago — the deadliest plane crash in the state's history.
On Aug. 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed mere minutes after takeoff beneath the Interstate 94 overpass on Middlebelt Road near Detroit Metropolitan Airport. In total, 156 individuals were killed, and a sole survivor was pulled from the wreckage — 4-year-old Cecelia Cichan of Tempe, Arizona, now known as Cecelia Crocker.
The flight was headed to Phoenix, where a layover was scheduled. Its final destination was Santa Ana, California.
The flight was cleared for takeoff at 8:44 p.m. Witnesses reported that the aircraft struggled to gain altitude. Shortly after takeoff, "the wings of the airplane rolled to the left and the right about 35 inches in each direction," according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The plane's instability caused the left wing to strike a light pole beyond the runway, resulting in significant damage to the wing. The plane then struck several other light poles and the roof of a rental car building before ultimately crashing around 8:46 p.m. onto Middlebelt in Romulus.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2024/08/16/northwest-airlines-flight-255-crash-detroit-michigan-anniversary/74824838007/
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