Romulus in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Northwest Airlines Flight 255
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, November 10, 2021
1. Northwest Airlines Flight 255 Marker
We Remember...
Our 156 loved ones who perished
August 16, 1987 at 8:46 p.m. when
Northwest Airlines Flight 255
crashed seconds after take off from
Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Their Spirit Lives On...
In Our Hearts And Minds Forever
-The Flight 255 Family
"And He will raised them up on eagle's wings,
bear them on the breath of dawn,
Make them to shine like the sun,
and hold them in the palm of His hand."
-Michael Joncas
©1979 New Dawn Music
Erected 1994 by The Flight 255 Family.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is August 16, 1987.
Location. 42° 14.51′ N, 83° 19.641′ W. Marker is in Romulus, Michigan, in Wayne County. Marker can be reached from Middlebelt Road near Wick Road, on the right when traveling north. The memorial is at the top of the hill at Middlebelt Road and just south of I-94, the site of the crash. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Romulus MI 48174, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Samuel Tobyne - 1827 (approx. 1.9 miles away); Annapolis Park (approx. 2 miles away); Oak Grove Burying Ground (approx.
this page online
Regarding Northwest Airlines Flight 255. The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members and 148 of the 149 passengers, along with two people on the ground. The sole survivor was a 4-year-old girl. The cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use the checklist to ensure that the flaps and slats were extended for takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane takeoff warning system, which thus did not warn the flightcrew that the airplane was not configured properly for takeoff. Many pilots found it a nuisance to hear take-off configuration warnings while they were taxiing, and it was common for pilots to pull the circuit breaker.
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, November 10, 2021
2. Northwest Airlines Flight 255 Marker
The memorial includes the names of those who lost their lives.
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, November 10, 2021
3. Northwest Airlines Flight 255 Marker
I-94 is in the background. This is the site where the plane came to rest.
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, November 10, 2021
4. Northwest Airlines Flight 255 Marker
This is a view from the memorial, back towards Middlebelt Road, showing the access to the memorial. It is a very busy street that is walked to avoid the expressway ramp traffic.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 417 times since then and 105 times this year. Last updated on October 28, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 2, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
