Today marks the 30th anniversary of the devastating Air Florida Flight 90 plane crash into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, DC, that killed 78 individuals, including four motorists on the bridge.
The footage above from The Washington Post reflects on the crash and shows footage from the dramatic rescue from the icy waters under the bridge. The helicopter seen in the video, Eagle 1, manned by pilot Donald W. Usher, and paramedic Melvin E. Windsor, was crucial to the rescuing the five survivors of the initial crash.
The National Law Enforcement Museum is currently in talks with the National Park Service and United States Park Police to include Eagle 1 in the National Law Enforcement Museum. Eagle 1 would hang prominently near the Museum’s entry staircase, over the To Protect & Serve exhibit, near the entrance of the Hall of Remembrance.
While this crash captured Washington’s attention, there are many law enforcement agencies around the country with helicopter units that could share their own stories of harrowing rescues. The Museum salutes all those whose law enforcement service takes them to the skies under dangerous life and death circumstances and welcomes artifacts from other agencies related to their helicopter, search and rescue or disaster response units.
Follow the Museum's progress at www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org.
More information about the Air Florida plan crash and anniversary is available at:http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/30-years-after-air-florida-crash-skies-safer-than-ever/2012/01/05/gIQAW0GwtP_story.html
http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/184389/158/Air-Florida-Flight-90-Crash-30th-Anniversary
http://www.nps.gov/uspp/avipag.htm
