Exclusive for Podcrashers:
On February 15, 1961, Sabena Flight 548 was carrying a plane full of travelers across the Atlantic Ocean. Among the passengers was the entire US Figure Skating team as they looked ahead to participating in the World Championships in Prague. Minutes before their scheduled arrival, the plane aborted its landing, beginning a series of unexpected maneuvers that resulted in a tragic crash. In this Patreon-exclusive episode, join Stephanie as she tells the story of what happened, what we learned, and how the legacy and memory of those on board made travel safer and fuels generation of skaters to this day.Sources consulted for this story:
- ICAO: Official Accident Report
- Jet Lag Blog: Sabena Flight 548
- Time: Disasters: Family Affair
- Time: In 1961 a Plane Crash Killed the Entire U.S. Figure Skating Team. Here's How the Tragic Legacy Lives On
- Los Angeles Times: Column: Sixtieth anniversary of U.S. figure skating plane crash conjures heartfelt memories
- ESPN: Still Crystal Clear
- This Day in Aviation: SABENA Flight SN548
- I Dream of Genealogy: 1961 Sabena Airlines 548 Crash
- US Figure Skating Association: Memorial Fund
- St. Louis Post Dispatch: 60 years ago, a tragedy wiped out the entire U.S. figure skating team
- NBC Sports: The 1961 U.S. figure skating world team lives on 60 years later, in memories and through the Memorial Fund
- Aviation24.be: Sixty years ago: crash of Sabena flight SN548 (Boeing 707) in Berg, Belgium, killing 73 people
- Cheyenne Gazette: From tragedy comes triumph
- Today: The entire US figure skating team died in a plane crash 60 years ago. The impact lives on
- UPI: 'Ice Queen,' 17 other U.S. skaters killed
- Washington Post: The terrible plane crash that devastated U.S. figure skating — and still shapes it today
Credits:
Written and produced by: Shelly Price and Stephanie HubkaDirected and engineered at: Snow Monster Studios
Sound editor: Stephanie Hubka
Producer: Adam Hubka
Music by: Mike Dunn
The Sports Illustrated magazine with Laurence Owen on the cover, which was recovered from the crash scene. Source: ThisDayInAviation.com
The famous photo of the US figure skating team as they boarded Sabena Flight 548 for Brussels. Source: Washington Post
Sabena Flight 548 crash site. Source: Today
