Flight 255 crash victims remembered 30 years later

(WJBK) - A vigil will be held Wednesday night to remember on the 30th anniversary all the lives lost in a deadly crash at Detroit Metro Airport.

Northwest Flight 255 crashed at 8:46 p.m. on August 16, 1987, just seconds after it took off from Detroit Metro Airport. Out of 148 passengers, six crew members, two motorists - only person survived.

At just 4 years old, Cecelia Cichan survived. She went on to be raised by relatives, graduated college, got married and led a successful life. Her parents and brother were among the 154 on board the plane who died. Two more people in a car were killed near the crash site.

So many lives lost, so many others impacted.

An investigation revealed pilot error was to blame. The crew failed to deploy the wing flaps before take-off.

A memorial placed at the crash site serves as a reminder of the lives lost - a place for their loved ones to gather and remember.

"I think it's a place where you go there and you feel their spirit. This is my personal opinion that they're still there," a visitor said.

Loved ones will gather Wednesday night at the memorial at 8:46 p.m. - the time of the crash - to remember those lost.