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In January 1982, Air Florida 90 crashed shortly after takeoff from Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The plane, bound for Tampa, Florida, plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River, killing seventy-four people on board. Among those deeply affected was Joe DeCesare, the station chief for Air Florida in Tampa, who was suddenly thrust into the heartbreaking aftermath of the disaster.
A Sudden Call to Duty
Joe DeCesare had no time to process the shock. When he received the devastating news, he was immediately ordered to travel to Washington, D.C., to oversee the recovery efforts.