1992: MLB's Black Monday in Atlanta
October 12, 1992
Atlanta, GA
726P Eastern Time
It was CNN that broke the story. They're words that still haunt many to this day.
"We're receiving word that a USAir jet has crashed on approach to Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport near I-285 in Panthersville in DeKalb County. Emergency services are en route to the site. We will have a helicopter feed in just a moment....."
The feed arrived several minutes later and the picture was horrific, only the tail of the plane being remotely recognizable; this identified it as a Boeing 737 of USAir; it had crashed a half mile south of I-285 near a suburban development, and one could instantly tell that there were no survivors.
The real bombshell hit nearly 20 minutes later, with the news being announced by the local CBS affiliate:
"Sources at USAir's operations center have confirmed to KDKA that the plane which crashed in Atlanta tonight was carrying the Pittsburgh Pirates. Once again..."
Within the hour, it was announced that there were no survivors......in Pittsburgh a sense of shock and disbelief instantly set in as the news spread.