The U.S. Figure Skating Team Takes Their Last Flight in 1961

Heading to Brussels for the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships, the U.S. Figure Skating team and their coach posed for this photo. The 18 members of the squad were also accompanied by family members on the occasion. Only that it would end up being their very last flight.

The pilot lost control mid-flight and the plane plummeted, claiming the lives of the everyone on board. Coming to terms with the devastating event, and out of respect for the U.S. team, the ’61 Skating Championships were canceled.