Fifty years ago, 82 people boarded Eastern Air Lines Flight 212. The plane took off from Charleston, S.C., in what was supposed to be a quick jaunt to Charlotte.
On the descent toward the Queen City, the plane crashed into a clearing located miles from the intended landing zone. In all, 72 people were killed.
Today, there are no flags, markers or memorial to acknowledge the disaster — there’s hardly any collective memory at all.
A new series from the Charlotte Observer is trying to change that. "9/11/74" details the Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crash in Charlotte and its aftermath — including historical photographs, unreported transcribed interviews days after the disaster, and conversations with the last three living survivors.
We discuss the series with the co-authors and a survivor of the tragedy.
GUESTS:
Richard Arnold, survivor of the 9/11/1974 Eastern Air Lines Flight 212
Scott Fowler, reporter at The Charlotte Observer and co-author of the series, “9/11/74”
Théoden Janes, reporter at The Charlotte Observer and co-author of the series, “9/11/74”
