The Forgotten Briefcase That Saved My Life

A passenger avoided the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 on January 13, 1982, after returning to a hotel to retrieve a forgotten briefcase.

The aircraft crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport. Of the 74 passengers and 5 crew members on board, only 4 passengers and flight attendant Kelly Duncan survived.

Writing for Catholic Exchange, the passenger explained that they had overslept and rushed to the airport to join their parents in Florida. During the taxi ride, they realized they had left a briefcase in their hotel room near Capitol Hill. After returning to the hotel to collect the item, the passenger missed the flight and saw news coverage of the crash while waiting in the lobby.