Air tragedies: Top teams hit by disaster
- By Xiang Bin
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China.org.cn, September 8, 2011
3. Sabena Flight 548 air disaster-February 15, 1961
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View of the scene of the plane crash of the Sabena Flight 548. [File photo] |
Sabena Flight 548, a Boeing 707, crashed en route to Brussels, Belgium, from New York City on February 15, 1961, killing the entire United States figure skating team, which was on its way to Prague for the 1961 World Championships.
The World Championship event was cancelled because the casualties included many of the top American coaches as well as athletes. The crash was a devastating blow to the U.S. Figure Skating program, which had dominated the sport in the 1950s.
Shortly after the crash, the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund was established to provide financial assistance to thousands of elite American skaters.
A documentary film called “RISE” was commissioned by U.S. Figure Skating to celebrate American figure skating and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.
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