| 1960 Danish football air crash | |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Date: | 16 July 1960 |
| Type: | Loss of control in severe weather |
| Site: | Øresund |
| Aircraft Type: | de Havilland Dragon Rapide |
| Operator: | Zonens Redningskorps |
| Origin: | Copenhagen Airport |
| Destination: | Herning Airport |
| Passengers: | 8 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Injuries: | 1 |
| Fatalities: | 8 |
| Survivors: | 1 |
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 50m (160feet) 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.[1] [2]
The plane was carrying eight association football players to Herning Airport for a final trial match at Herning stadium to select the Danish squad for the 1960 Olympic tournament.[1] 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.[1]
The dead were:[1]
| Player | Age | Club | Caps | Position | Day-job | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Goalkeeper | Butcher | Selected for the Olympics. | ||||
| 29 | Half-back | Engineer | First reserve for the Olympics. | ||||
| 21 | (8 youth, 1 B cap) | Winger | Student teacher | ||||
| Striker | Warehouse worker | ||||||
| 29 | Full-back | Customs official | Selected for the Olympics. | ||||
| 20 | Centre half | Blacksmith's apprentice | Selected for the Olympics. | ||||
| 19 | (had youth caps) | Forward | Apprentice mechanic | ||||
| 19 | Centre half |
Two fishermen found pilot Stig Vindeløv alive in the wreckage, along with Per Funch Jensen, who died en route to hospital.[1]
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.[1] These were all youth players.[1] Dyreborg was demoted from the first plane to make room for a kit basket.[1]
After the accident, the Danish FA considered withdrawing from the Olympic tournament.[1] In the event, they won the silver medal, losing to Yugoslavia in the final.[1] [3]