Thank you for posting this video. August 16, 1987. Northwest Airlines Flight 255. I will never forget. I have ties to this terrible day. It still brings tears to my eyes over 34 years later. At the time, this was the 2nd worst airplane accident in US history. I was stationed in Tucson, Arizona, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and was a Senior airman. I served with the Englert's and knew them for three and a half years. Karen was a Staff Sargent and was the NCO (non-commission officer) in charge of my shop. Charles was in our shop when I first arrived for duty but later went into the reserves, attended college, and worked for the USPS. They were also good friends. My wife did daycare for Charles Jr. (14 months old) My wife and myself were house-sitting for them while visiting their parents back east. We were supposed to pick them up at the Tucson, Arizona airport that night. It was a beautiful day as we waited to go to the airport. That beautiful day turned into the worst day of my life when I got that phone call. Karen’s father called us, and he was concerned that they were on that airplane. Of course, we went to the airport anyway. While waiting at the Tucson Airport, we called the airline to get information. They asked if we were relatives, and I lied. I said that my wife was Karen’s sister. The airline said that they were listed as being on that flight. We waited at the Airport for the connection flight to arrive in Tucson, hoping for a miracle, but they didn’t get off the airplane. As we privately hugged and cried, a news station was filming. I’m so glad that they did not approach us. Several other people were also waiting. One couple waiting for their mother did not know about the crash. I had a copy of the local news story on VHS that a friend recorded for us, but it was destroyed in a house fire several years later. We went back to their home but didn’t get much sleep that night. In the days that followed, I was ordered to turn over the house keys to the Air Force. I was given the solemn duty of accompanying an Air Force Officer to the airport to pick up their parents so they could pack up their belongings. The Air Force Base held a memorial service. This happened three months to the day that my Air Force enlistment was ending, and I spent my remaining time in a mental fog. Last year I attended the 34th annual memorial service at the crash site in Romulus, Michigan. The first time I've ever attended one. I meet the first responders that are in this video and family members. They are the nicest people! I'm planning on attending the 35th this year. I posted a video of the memorial service two days ago, and it is in my CZcams library. May God Bless you all!
We know now that this crash was the result of the crew not properly configuring the aircraft for takeoff, as the flaps were not set. How 2 professional, highly experienced airmen could make such a blunder, is the height of total incompetence and gross negligence.
I knew a woman who was the wife of the Romulus police chief who was on the scene when this happened, she told me that he had to retire shortly after because he was affected by all of the death and carnage he saw at the crash site.
I was on a flight that landed around the same time this happened at ten years old. Remember the traffic stopping on the overpass to see the fiery wreckage.
That night scarred a lot of men and women for life, as well as instantly took hundreds of people away from us just in an instant. The men and women who had to clean up the area saw some horrific things. Air travel was very safe even back then, the problem is WHEN something goes wrong the outcome is usually not a good one.
I was 11 years old waiting for my aunts plane to come into the gate that 255 was boarding from. I watched everyone hug and say goodbye before they got on the plane. There were no cell phones so we didn't know what was happening when my aunts plane didn't land as expected. They made an announcement but it wasn't clear if it was a big crash or if the plane was coming or going. A few hours later, my dad to took my sister and I to see my grandfather. We only knew what was happening once we had access to a TV. We went back to the airport and waited until the morning. The sent a ll the planes to other airport to fuel up before getting them back to Detroit.
Did the Detroit stations interrupt local programming due to this breaking news story. I don’t know if stations in Minnesota did so(Northwest was headquartered in the Twin Cities). I know they had coverage over the next few days. IIRC I heard about it on the radio as I had hit the sack earlier than normal due to starting High School football practice at 7 AM the next morning.
Yes, we just returned from my son's 1st birthday party after visiting my parent's home about 45 minutes from Detroit Metro. He was born August 16th 1986 and this happened on his 1st birthday. We lived about 10 minutes from the Airport. It was a very strange evening with thunderstorms and winds blowing from different directions. I said to my husband I feel something really bad is about to happen and I had know idea what. The only time I ever felt this. There was a big news flash accross the screen. My. sister, husband and her young children lived in Phoenix. They took the same flight and aircraft at the same time 2 weeks prior to this to Phoenix where. they lived. Phoenix has a memorial for this flight.
I always wondered why there was all that debris all over after 255 crashed, but none at all where the plane hit the pentagon on 911. Both sad, sad days.
Because the wreckage was mostly inside the rings of the building. But some wreckage is available and all you need to do is search "Pentagon flight 77 debris."
Thank you for posting this video.
August 16, 1987.
Northwest Airlines Flight 255.
I will never forget. I have ties to this terrible day. It still brings tears to my eyes over 34 years later. At the time, this was the 2nd worst airplane accident in US history. I was stationed in Tucson, Arizona, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and was a Senior airman. I served with the Englert's and knew them for three and a half years. Karen was a Staff Sargent and was the NCO (non-commission officer) in charge of my shop. Charles was in our shop when I first arrived for duty but later went into the reserves, attended college, and worked for the USPS. They were also good friends. My wife did daycare for Charles Jr. (14 months old) My wife and myself were house-sitting for them while visiting their parents back east. We were supposed to pick them up at the Tucson, Arizona airport that night. It was a beautiful day as we waited to go to the airport. That beautiful day turned into the worst day of my life when I got that phone call. Karen’s father called us, and he was concerned that they were on that airplane. Of course, we went to the airport anyway. While waiting at the Tucson Airport, we called the airline to get information. They asked if we were relatives, and I lied. I said that my wife was Karen’s sister. The airline said that they were listed as being on that flight. We waited at the Airport for the connection flight to arrive in Tucson, hoping for a miracle, but they didn’t get off the airplane. As we privately hugged and cried, a news station was filming. I’m so glad that they did not approach us. Several other people were also waiting. One couple waiting for their mother did not know about the crash. I had a copy of the local news story on VHS that a friend recorded for us, but it was destroyed in a house fire several years later. We went back to their home but didn’t get much sleep that night. In the days that followed, I was ordered to turn over the house keys to the Air Force. I was given the solemn duty of accompanying an Air Force Officer to the airport to pick up their parents so they could pack up their belongings. The Air Force Base held a memorial service. This happened three months to the day that my Air Force enlistment was ending, and I spent my remaining time in a mental fog.
Last year I attended the 34th annual memorial service at the crash site in Romulus, Michigan. The first time I've ever attended one. I meet the first responders that are in this video and family members. They are the nicest people! I'm planning on attending the 35th this year.
I posted a video of the memorial service two days ago, and it is in my CZcams library.
May God Bless you all!
Beyond words...
@@stevefoster4326indeed, I completely agree.
We know now that this crash was the result of the crew not properly configuring the aircraft for takeoff, as the flaps were not set. How 2 professional, highly experienced airmen could make such a blunder, is the height of total incompetence and gross negligence.
this is an amazing collection of news videos from the event. props to the digital archivists that saved and transferred all of it.
I knew a woman who was the wife of the Romulus police chief who was on the scene when this happened, she told me that he had to retire shortly after because he was affected by all of the death and carnage he saw at the crash site.
I was on a flight that landed around the same time this happened at ten years old. Remember the traffic stopping on the overpass to see the fiery wreckage.
Thank you Local 4 for sharing this...I'm a Detroiter and remember when this happened!
That night scarred a lot of men and women for life, as well as instantly took hundreds of people away from us just in an instant. The men and women who had to clean up the area saw some horrific things. Air travel was very safe even back then, the problem is WHEN something goes wrong the outcome is usually not a good one.
I was 11 years old waiting for my aunts plane to come into the gate that 255 was boarding from. I watched everyone hug and say goodbye before they got on the plane. There were no cell phones so we didn't know what was happening when my aunts plane didn't land as expected. They made an announcement but it wasn't clear if it was a big crash or if the plane was coming or going. A few hours later, my dad to took my sister and I to see my grandfather. We only knew what was happening once we had access to a TV. We went back to the airport and waited until the morning. The sent a ll the planes to other airport to fuel up before getting them back to Detroit.
Did the Detroit stations interrupt local programming due to this breaking news story. I don’t know if stations in Minnesota did so(Northwest was headquartered in the Twin Cities). I know they had coverage over the next few days. IIRC I heard about it on the radio as I had hit the sack earlier than normal due to starting High School football practice at 7 AM the next morning.
Yes, we just returned from my son's 1st birthday party after visiting my parent's home about 45 minutes from Detroit Metro. He was born August 16th 1986 and this happened on his 1st birthday. We lived about 10 minutes from the Airport. It was a very strange evening with thunderstorms and winds blowing from different directions. I said to my husband I feel something really bad is about to happen and I had know idea what. The only time I ever felt this. There was a big news flash accross the screen. My. sister, husband and her young children lived in Phoenix. They took the same flight and aircraft at the same time 2 weeks prior to this to Phoenix where. they lived. Phoenix has a memorial for this flight.
Thank you
Local 4
Even her Grandfather was wrong!!
They found her mother 30 feet away from where Cecelia was found!
when did this happen
August 1987.
8:01 This happened in Metro Detroit, why does this yokel sound like he's from Kentucker??
Northwest Orient🤔
I always wondered why there was all that debris all over after 255 crashed, but none at all where the plane hit the pentagon on 911. Both sad, sad days.
Because the wreckage was mostly inside the rings of the building. But some wreckage is available and all you need to do is search "Pentagon flight 77 debris."