On Sunday, March 22, at midnight, a serious aviation accident occurred at LaGuardia Airport in New York, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to dozens of others. What’s incredibly eerie is that on the exact same day 34 years ago, in 1992, another severe airplane crash took place at LaGuardia Airport. That incident, considered the deadliest in LaGuardia’s history, resulted in 27 deaths and 24 injuries. The fateful alignment of these two tragedies on the same date leaves one feeling shocked and contemplative.
In 1992, on March 22, USAir Flight 405 crashed shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. The aircraft was carrying a total of 51 people, including 47 passengers and 4 crew members.
That night, the Fokker F-28 jetliner was scheduled to fly from New York to Cleveland, Ohio. It was a cold winter night with snowfall, low temperatures, and poor visibility. The plane had been de-iced on the runway, but a delay of 35 minutes before takeoff caused the de-icing fluid, which had a 15-minute effectiveness window, to lose its efficacy, resulting in a re-icing of the wings. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft failed to climb properly and eventually spiraled out of control into the icy waters of Flushing Bay near the airport.
The accident claimed the lives of 27 individuals, while 24 managed to survive. Some passengers initially survived the impact but succumbed to injuries worsened by falling into the cold seawater or suffering from hypothermia, further exacerbating the overall casualty count.
Subsequent investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified factors that led to the accident, such as inadequate lift due to wing icing and the aircraft attempting to ascend before reaching a standard speed. Additionally, deficiencies in the de-icing procedures and operational standards at LaGuardia Airport at the time were recognized as crucial contributing factors to the crash.
This aviation disaster had far-reaching implications for the U.S. aviation safety system. Following the event, the aviation industry enhanced winter de-icing procedures and takeoff safety standards, as well as improved ground operations at airports. The crash on March 22, 1992, was seen as a pivotal case that drove reforms in aviation safety.
Now, as LaGuardia Airport witnesses a significant aviation accident once again on the very same day, the tragedy of 34 years ago is brought back to memory.