You are listening to the already gone podcast, sharing stories of the missing, the murder,

the mysterious, and the lost.

This week's episode is a little different.

Instead of focusing on a murder or a missing person, we're looking at a tragedy.

One of the worst tragedies in American aviation history when it happened.

We are revisiting the horrific demise of Northwest Airlines flight 255.

Living in the Detroit area, our airport has been a hub, as long as I can remember.

When I was young, it was Northwest Airlines.

Now it's Delta.

You can, quite literally, get anywhere from here.

Northwest Airlines started in the 1920s, founded by Lewis H. Britton.

When the airline was in its infancy, they weren't transporting people.

They were under contract with the US Postal Service too, quite literally, move the mail.

They flew mainly between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Chicago, Illinois.

After a year or two, there was a demand to transport people as well, and passenger service

was added.

Before 1930, Northwest was an international brand, offering flights from Minnesota to

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

At the end of World War II, Northwest branched out further, adding destinations in Asia.

The name of the airlines was updated to reflect this change.

Northwest-oriented airlines.

More decades after adding service to Asia, the company made additional changes.

...