logo
Getty Images
Getty Images

Owen Family Died 60 Years Ago — Inside Plane Crash That Killed Entire US Figure Skating Team

Gaone Pule
May 04, 2021
02:30 A.M.

February 14 marked exactly 60 years since the terrible news, which saw the figure skating team killed by a plane crash. It was earmarked as the worst day in US figure skating history.

Advertisement

The Sabena Flight 548 took the lives of the entire US figure skating team on its way to the 1961 World Champions. The team comprised of 72 members aboard, 34 being skaters.

It included coaches, officials, and relatives on the flight and ten who were Boston natives. The devastating tragedy had a significant impact on the sport in the country as the team was deemed the nation's best.

The 18 members of the US figure skating team as they boarded the ill-fated Belgian aircraft on February 14, 1961 | Photo: Getty Images

The 18 members of the US figure skating team as they boarded the ill-fated Belgian aircraft on February 14, 1961 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

Weeks before the incident, they won five national championships. Back in the day, the Harned Trophy was awarded to the skating club with the best results.

That same year at the national championships, the Skating Club of Boston won it for the seventh time. That achievement was thwarted when the flight boarded by the team failed to land three times at the Brussels Airport.

Pictured - An airplane in flight | Photo: Getty Images

Pictured - An airplane in flight | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

It led to the aircraft plunging to the ground and exploding upon impact. During the commemorative event earlier this year, an Olympic gold medalist, Tenley Albright, spoke from the club’s trophy room and said:

“I am sitting in this trophy room, thinking of the trophies that would be here had this tragedy not happened."

Pictured - Figure skating dancing couple at the championships | Source: Pixabay

Pictured - Figure skating dancing couple at the championships | Source: Pixabay

Advertisement

The crash victims included Maribel Owen, a senior at Boston University at the time who wanted to become a teacher. Bradley Lord, the US men's champion who had taken the year off.

Dudley Richards, a Harvard graduate and who was also Owen's skating partner. Owen's younger sister Laurence Owen was accepted by Radcliffe.

The US Figure Skating Association secretary said the team was the finest skaters in the country while predicting it would take a while for American skaters to bounce back.

Pictured - A figure skater during the winter sport competition | Source: Pixabay

Pictured - A figure skater during the winter sport competition | Source: Pixabay

Advertisement

Then-Vice President of the organization F. Ritter Shumway echoed the same sentiments and predicted it would require two to four years for the US to recover its international status.

According to the Washington Post, a memorial fund was set up in honor of the victims weeks after the accident. It has distributed more than $15 million in financial relief to assist thousands of skaters.

Pictured - An airplane crash landing on impact | Source: Pixabay

Pictured - An airplane crash landing on impact | Source: Pixabay

One of the victims, Maribel, was a three-time Olympian and a coach. She set a new record and became the first female sportswriter at The New York Times.

The mystery of what was wrong with the plane began even before the airplane crashed. One theory is that another aircraft was in close range to the intended runaway.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Couple Lose Three Kids in Plane Crash, Believe They Sent Them a Baby to Live through the Tragedy

April 25, 2022

Florence Griffith-Joyner's Husband Al Found Her Lifeless in Their Bedroom & Tried to Revive Her by Himself

May 04, 2022

Meet ‘McMillan & Wife’ Star Susan Saint James’ Stunning Family with Husband Who Is a TV Wunderkind

February 11, 2022

Audie Murphy Married Stewardess Days after His Divorce ⁠— She Was with Him for 20 Years When He Suddenly Died

May 20, 2022

Caitlyn Jenner Feels That 'Old Bruce' Still 'Lives Inside’ Her - Kids Call Her ‘Dad’ Even After Transition

February 27, 2022

Susan Saint James Put Her Career on Hold to Be a Mom - She Was Struck with Death of Younger Son

March 05, 2022

Crying Soldier Is Late for Flight, Staff Tenses as Voice Says, ‘Don’t Let Him Get on the Plane!’ – Story of the Day

May 24, 2022

Simone Biles Made the First Move On Fiance Jonathan Owens in a Dating App - He Had No Clue Who She Was

February 16, 2022

Princess Charlene Tried 'To Flee 3 Times' before Monaco Wedding & Cried during the Ceremony, Said Reports

March 16, 2022

Before Disembarking Plane, Pilot Notices Last Passenger inside Who Is a Carbon Copy of Him – Story of the Day

March 31, 2022

Girl Gets Pregnant and Dumps Baby on Her Father, 16 Years Later She Wants to Interfere in His Life

March 27, 2022

Boy with Prosthesis Is Denied by Soccer Team, Next Day Captain Personally Invites Him to Join – Story of the Day

May 08, 2022

Girl, 12, Fleeing Home Meets Lady Who Gives Her Envelope and Asks Her Not to Open It on the Plane

May 18, 2022

Patsy Cline Talked about Her ‘Time to Go’ Right before the Fatal Crash That Left Her Two Kids without a Mom

March 31, 2022