1960 Danish football air crash
A Dragon Rapide similar to the accident aircraft
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 July 1960 |
| Summary | loss of control in severe weather |
| Site | Øresund |
| Passengers | 8 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 8 |
| Injuries (non-fatal) | 1 |
| Survivors | 1 |
| Aircraft type | de Havilland Dragon Rapide |
| Operator | Zonens Redningskorps |
| Flight origin | Copenhagen Airport |
| Destination | Herning Airport |
On 16 July 1960, after taking off from Copenhagen Airport at 15.38 local time, a de Havilland Dragon Rapide plane, (registration OY-DZY) chartered to the Danish Football Association, crashed into the Øresund about 50 metres from shore after the pilot lost control of the aircraft in severe weather. All eight passengers died; the pilot survived but required a leg to be amputated.
The plane was carrying eight association football players to Herning Airport for a final trial match at Herning stadium to select the for the 1960 Olympic tournament. Three of the eight had been provisionally selected for the squad; the rest were B-team and youth internationals with a last chance to impress the selectors.
The dead were:
Two fishermen found pilot Stig Vindeløv alive in the wreckage, along with Per Funch Jensen, who died en route to hospital.
A smaller plane waiting for clearance to take off when the accident occurred was due to carry four other players to the same match: Erik Dyreborg, Hans Christian Andersen, Bent Jørgensen, and Bjarne Eklund. These were all youth players. Dyreborg was demoted from the first plane to make room for a kit basket.
After the accident, the Danish FA considered withdrawing from the Olympic tournament. In the event, they won the silver medal, losing to Yugoslavia in the final.
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