It’s been 43 years since a tragic plane crash on the Potomac River shocked the nation. On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 took off from Washington National Airport in heavy snow. Minutes later, the Boeing 737 slammed into the 14th Street Bridge before plunging into the icy waters below. The disaster claimed 78 lives, with only five survivors.

The flight, bound for Tampa, Florida, had barely reached 350 feet in the air before it hit the bridge, striking several cars before breaking apart. The airport had temporarily closed due to the storm, and the plane took off just after it reopened. Survivor Joseph Stiley, a professional pilot who was onboard, later recalled sensing trouble before takeoff, saying the plane wasn’t accelerating as it should have been.

Rescue efforts were grueling. The icy river made it difficult for Coast Guard and police divers to recover bodies and search for survivors. Four of the victims were in cars on the bridge at the time of the crash.

Investigators later found that multiple errors contributed to the tragedy. The pilot could have prevented the crash by applying full thrust after takeoff, but engine sensors weren’t properly heated for the freezing conditions. Additionally, the wings hadn’t been fully de-iced before departure—a critical oversight. At the time, there were no federal standards for de-icing planes.

The 1982 crash remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in U.S. history, a stark reminder of the risks posed by winter weather and the importance of rigorous safety protocols.