Exclusive for Podcrashers:
On December 8, 1972, United Air Lines Flight 553 departed from Washington, DC- but it never reached the runway at Chicago's Midway Airport. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares a story about how a heartbreaking crash changed the lives of an entire community- and opened the door to some surprising political claims during the investigation.Sources consulted for this story:
- NTSB: Official Accident Report
- New York Times: 46 ABOARD JET DIE WHEN IT CRASHES ON CHICAGO HOMES
- Chicago Tribune: 1972's United Flight 553 crash (pictures)
- CBS News: Thursday marks 50th anniversary of deadly plane crash near Midway
- Aviation Pros: 50 Years Ago, a Plane Crashed Into Homes Outside Midway, Killing 45 People. The Neighborhood Hasn’t Forgotten
- ABC 7: United Airlines 553: Survivor recounts tragic flight
- Washington Post: Ashburn’s Marguerite McCausland recalls surviving crash of United Flight 553 in Chicago in 1972
- Fox 32 Chicago: Survivors recall doomed United Flight 553 as anniversary of Chicago crash draws near: 'Like a bomb exploded'
- Chicago Sun Times: 50 years ago, a 737 fell from the sky and flattened homes on the Southwest Side
- ABC 7: Man who survived Midway jet crash recalls day, shows piece of plane he's kept for 50 years
- Simple Flying: How United Airlines Flight 553 Became The Boeing 737-200's First Fatal Accident
- Washington Post: A plane crash 50 years ago changed the course of U.S. history
- Chicago Magazine: The Day a 737 Crashed Into West Lawn
Credits:
Written and produced by: Shelly Price and Stephanie HubkaDirected and engineered at: Snow Monster Studios
Sound editor: Podcast Engineers
Producer: Adam Hubka
Music by: Mike Dunn
Aerial view of the neighborhood where Flight 553 crashed. Source: Chicago Tribune
Firefighters work to extinguish the flames. Source: Chicago Tribune
The tail of the 737 within the debris at the crash site. Source: Chicago Tribune
