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Started By
Message
DC Plane Crash Spinoff: Who here remembers Air Florida Flight 90?
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:10 am
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:10 am
I remember it like it was yesterday. Air Florida Flight 90 Crash January 13, 1982. A huge snowstorm had hit the east coast and we had played in the show all day. We had come inside to warm up by the fire when the national news broke in with live video from the scene.
Everyone who remembers the crash remembers the heroics of Lenny Skutnik, who dove in the icy waters to save Nikki Felch, a stewardess on the flight. However, many may not know the name of Arland Williams Jr. Williams was a Citadel graduate Class of 1957 (That's why I know of him.) Williams, also known as "the man who passed the rope", survived the crash, but at least 3 times passed off one of the ropes from the helicopters towing people to shore. He ultimately drowned in the frigid waters of the Potomac. President Reagan later posthumously awarded Williams the Coast Guard’s Gold Lifesaving Medal at a ceremony in the Oval Office.
Remembering a Air Florida Flight 90 hero, Arland Williams Jr., Citadel Class of 1957
Everyone who remembers the crash remembers the heroics of Lenny Skutnik, who dove in the icy waters to save Nikki Felch, a stewardess on the flight. However, many may not know the name of Arland Williams Jr. Williams was a Citadel graduate Class of 1957 (That's why I know of him.) Williams, also known as "the man who passed the rope", survived the crash, but at least 3 times passed off one of the ropes from the helicopters towing people to shore. He ultimately drowned in the frigid waters of the Potomac. President Reagan later posthumously awarded Williams the Coast Guard’s Gold Lifesaving Medal at a ceremony in the Oval Office.
Remembering a Air Florida Flight 90 hero, Arland Williams Jr., Citadel Class of 1957
22
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:15 am to Lonnie Utah
<<<<< remembers
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:18 am to Lonnie Utah
3 days before my 13th birthday. I remember my family all around the tv watching it. Nothing else was on tv that night except the crash.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:26 am to mdw1969
quote:
3 days before my 13th birthday.
A few moths for me, but basically the same. Typing this, I have realized my kid is just a little older than I was at the time...
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:29 am to Lonnie Utah
Was in Colorado skiing when this happened. I believe we got some snow in LA. from that storm.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:32 am to Lonnie Utah
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 7:22 am
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:34 am to Lonnie Utah
I was 27 years old….i remember watching the rescue operations live. One poor guy….I think he was the last one to attempt to saved as he was helping others before himself. But he had been in the icy water so long that he didn’t have any strength left. He couldn’t hang onto the life ring dangling from the helicopter and I think he drowned if memory serves me correctly.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 7:37 am to Lonnie Utah
quote:
He ultimately drowned
They could've at least thrown him a life vest while he waited.
This post was edited on 1/30/25 at 7:38 am
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:34 am to Lonnie Utah
Holy crap I've never seen that!!!
That woman was in shock and had given up and was literally slipping away under the water to her death when he practically ran across the water and grabbed her.
fricking guy was like NOT ON MY WATCH!!!
It's like a movie
never seen anything like that
That woman was in shock and had given up and was literally slipping away under the water to her death when he practically ran across the water and grabbed her.
fricking guy was like NOT ON MY WATCH!!!
It's like a movie
never seen anything like thatThis post was edited on 1/30/25 at 8:37 am
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:35 am to Woolfpack
quote:
Avianca Airlines Flight 52
quote:
There was no fire
they ran out of gas
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:39 am to Lonnie Utah
Back in the mid 90's, my boss at the time told me about how he missed that flight by getting messed up at the airport. He was supposed to be on it. He had a good bit of thankfullness mixed with survivors guilt.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:47 am to Lonnie Utah
I recall as well.
I was living in Virginia at the time and we had snow, too.
Distinctly remember the guy who jumped in the river to save the passengers
I was living in Virginia at the time and we had snow, too.
Distinctly remember the guy who jumped in the river to save the passengers
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:49 am to Lonnie Utah
The Air Florida crash was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about last night's crash.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:51 am to chinhoyang
quote:
The Air Florida crash was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about last night's crash.
same, and one of the first shots I saw was of the 14th Street bridges
Posted on 1/30/25 at 8:56 am to Lonnie Utah
quote:
Everyone who remembers the crash remembers the heroics of Lenny Skutnik, who dove in the icy waters to save Nikki Felch,
One of the things I'll never forget watching that. Remember watching Nikki Felch trying to hold on to that life ring but was too cold to do so, then Skutnik diving in for her.
I was a senior in high school.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 9:09 am to Lonnie Utah
Clearly remember.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 9:31 am to Lonnie Utah
quote:
was a Citadel graduate
Posted on 1/30/25 at 9:36 am to Lonnie Utah
There was also a deadly metro derailment the same day.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 9:38 am to Lonnie Utah
quote:
many may not know the name of Arland Williams Jr. Williams was a Citadel graduate Class of 1957 (That's why I know of him.) Williams, also known as "the man who passed the rope", survived the crash, but at least 3 times passed off one of the ropes from the helicopters towing people to shore. He ultimately drowned in the frigid waters of the Potomac.
I've seen videos of his heroism that day. After the 3rd person is lifted to safety, Williams just disappeared under the ice/snow. It is truly amazing that he survived as long as he did in that frigid water.
RIP Mr. Williams.
Posted on 1/30/25 at 9:38 am to Lonnie Utah
I do.
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