A Look Back at the Deadly 1982 Potomac River Crash

[@anonymousfan1008]

I remember seeing the footage on mayday air disasters. There was actually another hero that day. Another passenger had survived but was tangled in debris. He had one arm free so whenever the rope was lowered he actually passed it to the others cause he knew they had a better chance than him. Sadly by the time they went back for him it was too late. But his act of kindness will never be forgotten.

[@NeutronDance]

Arland D. Williams Jr.

[@firelordplayz]

Stop embellishing. He was trapped in the wreckage and couldn't free himself. Then once the wreckage sunk further into the water it drowned him. The only one to drown that day. They made up the story about him "giving the rope to others and sacrificing himself", as a coping mechanism. You can clearly see the ropes being lowered and no one hands a rope away to someone else lmfao.

[@kidlightning1736]

I was about to same the exact same thing thats where i say this!

[@Rumouruk]

@@firelordplayz Ahh, tell me where someone saying a dead guy was a hero hurt you. Don't forget to tell your therapist what you typed, he can soothe you for a fee... 😂🤣😂

[@Perich29]

It was pilot error on ground, they shut down De Ice which creat Ice build up while boarding, and they used reverse thrust when backing from the door.

[@irielgordon2693]

To jump into frigid cold water to save someone else is such a selfless act and brought tears to my eyes 😢

[@ieatcrayons-oi9ye]

Made my head heart from that tear remind me of my dad

[@GDC-v8p]

💪🏿✊🏿

[@bethanyoneal5789]

I know ❤

[@glen5084]

same here

[@Ferret-v8r]

I can not believe Inside Edition made 0 Mention of Arland D. Williams Jr.?! Williams, initially survived the crash and continued to help the others reach the rescue ropes being dropped by the hovering helicopter, repeatedly passing the line to others instead of using it himself. He drowned before the Helicopter could rescue him.

[@alwillk]

Yeah, the bridge is named after him.

[@hgfku-tn6hb]

We don't fear death but the way it happens. Rest in peace

[@missladyanonymity]

Type for yourself.

[@MasteringSilence]

@@missladyanonymityFind Jesus Christ, and you’ll find eternal life.

[@ashleyp.8928]

@@MasteringSilence 🤣

[@muncangel5993]

very true

[@bethanyoneal5789]

Agreed. I’m not afraid to die, necessarily but I am afraid of suffering.

[@omerolopez9741]

The fact that there were 2 plane crashes in the Potomac River 43 years apart is crazy

[@Bryan-od7nv]

One in 1949 also where a military plane collided with a DC 4 on approach and ended up on the banks of the Potomac.

[@Matthewsix33]

Same month too. Interesting. 🤨

[@ashishravi7099]

This year there are no survivors but no ground fatalities unlike the 1982 crash

[@SPUBES]

History repeats itself maybe

[@shmurdadubz8127]

how is that crazy? 43 years without incident sounds pretty good to me..

[@moai7344]

So sad to see how a normal day for some unlucky people can turn tragic within a split second R.I.P

[@gbb82]

No greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for another. RIP to the 67 lives lost.

[@notsheerosmemes]

no way the 1980s is about to be 40 years man.. time flies :(

[@danka2000]

It already is.. in 2020, the start of the 1980s decade turned 40. I turned 40 2.5 years ago. This crash in January 1982 was months before I was born in May 1982.

[@Andrew_Warden]

Watching that poor lady's face as she helplessly reaches when she gets left behind is excruciating. Tragic case of good photojournalism.

[@lindyr.1009]

I remember that like it was yesterday. The poor lady (Priscilla Tejado) who Lenny Skutnik dived into the river to save, was with her infant on the plane. They found her baby at the bottom of the river a couple days later. 😢😢😢😢

[@fatamorgana8072]

@@lindyr.1009 😥😥💔

[@arkwill14]

It was more than just being left behind. Her husband and 2-month old baby had been with her and died in the crash. Also, she was blinded by the jet fuel in the water.

[@fatamorgana8072]

@ 😢😢💔

[@tracyaskew1651]

My grandmother was supposed to be on that flight. She missed her flight.

[@KB-ke3fi]

Final Destination

[@rodnstaff33]

She would've been the 6th survivor, for sure, mate.😉

[@ShooterFPS]

We need more brave people like this in today's generation 😢

[@lloydhlavac6807]

I remember when this tragedy happened. Hard to believe it is now so long ago.

[@aragon77]

I remember this. I was 5 years old. I didn't understand what was going on. Then last their was a movie made about this crash. The scene where the lady was trying to get to shore always stuck with me. When I saw this clip. It all came back to me. It was a very scary and sad day. That was also in the movie.

[@OrioleBeagle]

I remember this. Howard Stern's comments on the tragedy got him fired.

[@pjm6939]

What do people expect from Fart Man? He thought that persona up all by himself and was proud of it.

[@bethanyoneal5789]

I’m not surprised

[@hgsert2733]

I remember. It was so sad

[@JoeBuck207]

Howard Stern got suspended for making fun of this on his radio show back then.

[@StarLight-sl9ok]

😮

[@soulchorea]

It wasn't too long before this, that people seemingly decided en masse, "you know what, I rather enjoy listening to absolute moronic jerks say nothing but stupid stuff on the radio all day"

[@gbb82]

Howard Stern reportedly called the airline and asked how much was it for a one way ticket into the Potomac….Bad taste at that moment.

[@ronnieam33]

I remember watching these images on the news back then, I was 12 years old!

[@kingskid4804]

Mighty God, those people are all heroes for assisting those people in need 👏 👏 ❤❤

[@HeatherCampbell-kc7fx]

That video always gives me goose bumps from him saving that woman! Bravo!!

[@fixthesegames6303]

Damn the 80s was 40 years ago 😮😮😮😮

[@ThelmaSky1992]

As a 32 yr old i feel the 80s was 20 yrs ago 😂

[@Andrew_Warden]

​@@ThelmaSky1992 Same 😂

[@ekop1778]

@@ThelmaSky1992 I WAS 10 THEN DONT SEEM POSSIBLE

[@gbb82]

I can’t believe it either, I was in my 20’s then.

[@fixthesegames6303]

@@ThelmaSky1992 yup I remember being a kid in the 90s. Watching all the cool anime and movies from the 80s. Time waits for no one!

[@katiem4539]

Wow! I wonder how that woman is doing. Such a scary thing

[@alwillk]

She lost her husband and child on the flight.

[@peachyclean93]

Awe, OMG so devastating poor people

[@AudieHolland]

Those helicopter pilots were unbelievable too.

[@thatgirlPAIGE94]

WOW!!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@terryjohnson1250]

I wasn’t made yet. Never heard of the incident before. I was born December of 1982. Rip to the lives that were lost. To all the heroes who helped with the rescue thanks. Things happen according to the time continuum. This is a part of our American history that should be remembered as time stranger’s United not because of race or religion. Because someone actually needed a helping hand. We all have something to give in this world. You never know when it’s your time to become a hero.

[@franklin8618]

What was the receipe to make you? Just asking.

[@angelinelim8657]

Praise God for people who will put their lives on the line for others.

[@mikelumbreras4903]

Every one remember that day. Rip.

[@scottylewis8124]

I remember the black box recording of this. "We only want 500. Come on forward. Forward! Just barley climb." "Stalling! We're falling!" "We're going down, Larry!" "I know!"

[@rodnstaff33]

😞

[@alwillk]

The stupid pilot got em killed. The co-pilot noticed the aerodynamic readings were off and was questioning the pilot about de-icing again.

[@AdrianBatts]

Was 3 years old when that happened but I remember Rip to everyone on both flights that passed I swear that river is cursed

[@ElaineDavis-t6d]

That was a terrible tragedy

[@georgediffee4835]

Yep first thing i thought of when the latest crash happened.

[@gayaneg.3805]

This crash immediately came to mind. I used to be such an “air crash investigation” junkie, wouldn’t miss a single episode, and this one stood out just by how anybody survived and how preventable this crash was. And what are the odds of the plane in a recent crash to also fall into Potomac river. Such a sad sad tragedy!!! My heart is aching for everyone affected!!! 💔💔💔

[@lailahepburnandmischka]

@@gayaneg.3805 I was gutted when I'd seen them all 😭 now there are some where I don't remember exactly what happens the second I start watching, but they're the really boring ones

[@JohnnyAngel8]

I remember seeing it on TV. Some additional information: The airport was Washington National Airport (Ronald Reagan's name was added in 1998). Also, four people were killed in their cars on the bridge; I believe at least one of them was decapitated by the jet plane.

[@toxinomic3713]

If people are pulling out footage from 1982 and comparing it to recent events than i think its interesting.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

geeze thats rough! Hope for any injured people a speedy recovery

[@premkamandir]

Super heroes ❤️❤️🙏

[@Reconseal4050]

The adrenaline rush kicked in for that man to save that woman!

[@cityofseattleroleplay]

The crazy part is that PSA has now been involved in not one, but TWO midair collisions. One happening in California with PSA 182.

[@elizabethod]

Rip to the victims

[@keetahbrough]

i wwas 10 years old and watched, riveted to the news, so proud of those everyday heroes called people! My childs chest so destroyed seeing the injured but chest rising and falling stoked with adrenaline, ordinary folks on their way home stopped and started rescuing folks, you don't see an INKLING of that kind of community these days.

[@Serpico1152]

I'll always remember that brutally cold snowy day here in Maryland, I called out sick from my hated local government job and watched all of this happen from the comfort of my nice warm home, I appreciated seeing Lenny Skutnik risking his own life to save Priscilla who was starting to go under for the last time and drown while all of the trained fearless firefighter rescuers stayed safely onshore, then one of them finally decided to jump in to help because Lenny was making all of them look so bad, it's funny that I never heard anyone else ever make that comment at the time or even to this day, but it is what it was. 🤔

[@djpee25]

Movie based on that crash,Flight 90 Disaster on the Potomac,featuring Richard Masur is worth a watch,captures the emotions very well…

[@ilovek174]

Oh goodness this makes me cry🥹❤️

[@thomascunningham6284]

I remember the 1982 crash

[@janinsweden8559]

True heroes ❤

[@Stibre_86]

Thats insane! Poor people

[@Miles.Larsen]

You weren’t first

[@Stibre_86]

@ oh, i think it was a glich, i didnt see the other comment

[@kitchill]

Wonderful job Scott, today people would just hold up their phone.

[@Bonobos922]

I remember this. I forgot it was 1982, I thought it was 1980. That was a sad day.

[@ekop1778]

I WAS 10 THEN REMEMBER THE BLIZZARD HERE IN CT SAME STORM HAD TO GO TO A FUNERAL FOR MY AUNT THAT WEEK IT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO THE STORM I REMEMBER GOING TO DC FROM CT IN 1997 TO THE BUS STATION WENT OVER THIS BRIDGE BRINGS BACK THE DAY THAT WOMAN ON ROPE IS A STEWADRESS

[@spencerathearn3586]

There was also another one in the 70s where a f4 phantom collide with a jetliner in mid air also

[@AudieHolland]

I thought it happened in the 1960s. Looked it up and you're correct, 1971. An F4 collided with a DC-9, killing 50 including the Phantom pilot. The only survivor was the F4 radio operator who was able to eject safely.

[@xCodeXANA]

30 seconds after take off. Did this crash have anything to do with NOT being de-iced? I used to de-ice planes as my job, and we had to watch an Air Disasters episode about a specific crash that happened because the plane was not properly de-iced. The ice and snow weighed the plane down and it went down shortly after take off. Is this that crash?

[@BigfistJP]

I wish there had been mention of Mr. Arland Williams who also died that day. He was still alive in the water when the rescue helicopter came and he continued to pass the rescue rope to other passengers who were in the water, and thus they were saved. Mr. Williams eventually went under and drowned. The 14 St. bridge is now named the Arland Williams Memorial Bridge.

[@AudieHolland]

Amen.

[@brendaleake]

Wow I don't even remember hearing about this! I was a junior in high school at that time but grew up in the Midwest. I am sure it made National news but I sure don't remember hearing about it. But very scary for those who experienced that!

[@JonathanChan212]

Whats crazy is that the very same day in the very same city, a WMATA metro train derailed, making that day the commuter's worst nightmare in rush hour

[@cinnaharpo4732]

😢😢😢

[@Official_The_Real_Zooble]

Rip

[@LifePearl-d3l]

That guy is selfless

[@TheMrBADGAS]

Are we not going to talk about the snow difference between then and now?

[@slopoke750]

That dude is a bad ass

[@Gsp_in_NYC]

a lot colder in those days

[@seekinggodfirst754]

God bless Mr. Skutnik! Wow!

[@kristoffk1956]

Nowadays we just need the Taco Bell money 💰💰

[@Dillweed-c8j]

What about the poor passengers in the vehicles on the bridge that got crushed by the plane that bounced off them before diving into the Potomic? 😮

[@petergriffin383]

I remember those days, people actually cared about strangers, and instead standing there recording they jumped into action.

[@laurie1536]

I was a teen in San Diego when PSA Flight 182 collided with a Cessna over a North Park neighborhood in 1978. Killing all 135 passengers on board, the Cessna pilot and 7 people on the ground. Unimagineable carnage! Bodies and body parts scattered everywhere, on rooftops, in yards, in trees. Horrific crash!

[@animemangafan1987]

The footage was shown at the end of Maximum Exposure episode entitled "Rescue Me!" It was ranked #1 on the Max X list

[@HoosiHerHillbilly]

Lenny forever

[@MohammedAhmed-bc7zd]

😔

[@anamarin2490]

😔🙏🏻

[@TalariaTimes]

Best to photograph them , instead of trying to help

[@ChaNnArD-mD]

No parachutes?

[@soldierboywannabe267]

US PARK POLICE was crucial to that rescue

[@janinsweden8559]

That is 40 years ago but the helicopter looks just like modern helicopters ?

[@FDR-ww6xz]

Tis a dark day back then

[@sheismymom]

Wow

[@JosiePC44]

I was 12 yrs old when this happened. I'll never forget watching this on the news, the look of complete shock and terror on that woman's face. I saw her being interviewed years after and she had lost her infant - a son, I think and her husband in that crash. So tragic. President Reagan handled that disaster with such empathy and compassion. No empathy whatsoever from trump. Zero.

[@ELcinegatto87]

Deja vu, BUT the midair the other night we haven't had one like it since '86 when a private plane crashed into an Aeromexico jet landing at LAX. Same as 1978 when a student pilot in a private plane went off course and collided with a PSA jet landing in San Diego. Nearly 40 years since the last airliner midair in CONUS. Immense progress considering they used to happen more in the 50s-90s until tech/procedures improved. Aviation safety is in a different universe compared to where we were back then when airliner crashes (midair, pilot/mechanical error or weather) were alarmingly semi-regular events. Decades later, it's true today that you have significantly better odds of perishing in a car accident on the way to the airport than you do taking the flight.

[@broguns24]

What’s sad is I doubt anyone would jump to save someone if that were today for most people just record and stand there confused or wait for orders

[@straycats6]

I remember

[@LeadMe2TheBliss]

A year or two before I was born.

[@kuraito1346]

✝️💐✝️

[@df4196]

It’s tragedies week on Inside Edition. Relive your favorite fatal accidents.

[@KentRoads]

when you consider leap years isn't that exactly 40 years later?

[@Cezarrrrrr]

theyre really milking this tragedy, what a joke

[@Createrz2015]

Dont forget the last major US plane crash (before recent events) was in 2009 with Colgan Air 3407. Strange that all 3 of these crashes (Air Florida 90, Colgan Air 3407, and American Air 5342) were caused primarily by Human Error.

[@AudieHolland]

Not so strange when you realize how overcrowded the airlanes were and how overworked many people were. On 5 August 1981, the Reagan administration fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored the order to return to work. They were banned to ever work for federal service for life.

[@Perich29]

Thats Florida airline, the pilot shut the de Ice switch and use reverse thrust when backing from the terminal which cause snow to get into the engine and the engines failed after take off what were they dinking?

[@osvaldogarcia243]

Why planes crash.

[@zebracakez41]

What a tragedy but that happened and i hate too split hairs here but it was 42 years ago not 43 glad some people got saved from that tragedy

[@alwillk]

This crash help bankrupt Air Florida. The stupid pilot got em killed by not aborting the takeoff because he didn’t want to wait to get de-iced again. On the Radio transmissions the pilot keeps reassuring the co-pilot. The co-pilot was flying and kept doubting the take off.

[@dcallan812]

The 1982 accident was just that and accident. This new crash has one person responsible. You cant cut staff at whim and expect to blame the problem on past presidents. Who during their terms never had a fatal airliner crash. Who will be investigating this someone just cut the budget for the FFA and sacked it top official.

[@MyGoogleYoutube]

I am not sure how you define accident but there was a lot of human error that put that plane in the river. The final nail in the coffin being the pilot's not using the engine anti-ice. People didn't do their job properly and others died because of it.

[@missladyanonymity]

@01:38 i thought they were gonna say 12 days later he uh.... "dyed" of pneumonia.😬 im half listening. Maybe they showed sputnik before the narration said the 12 days part.

[@missladyanonymity]

13* @01:34

[@wpflesh6510]

Great now i gotta go find the made for tv movie of this and watch it

[@iCANT_BELIEVE_YOU_SAID_THAT]

They don't male heros like this anymore. Nowadays phoned would've been out and Tikitoki the incident.

[@mrstealyourgurl3910]

wow I was born 1 month after Feb 11 1982 woooooooooooow

[@lancejarell3926]

Theirs an animation of it, teh air Florida 90 plane crashing into the bridge

[@joeysanguine3596]

I wrote a song about this tragedy; it’s on my channel

[@ygnb5608]

i know this incident.

[@PerAllwin1963]

That river is CURSED!

[@ashantiadams6403]

Boeing strike again

[@Perich29]

It was the 737 200 it's 1982 way before the max. The 727 would be better than the 737.

[@EHWFederation1]

OH so they just hit copy and paste with a little razzle dazzle this time.