Last surviving responder to 1963 plane crash dies

Firefighter Richard Ziegler, 83, rescued 12 people from the wreckage of Mohawk Airlines Flight 121

June 29, 2020 09:53 AM

Firefighter Richard Ziegler died Saturday at age 83. He is believed to have been the last surviving responder to the Mohawk Airlines Flight 121 crash of 1963.

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Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, N.Y.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A firefighter who responded to the Rochester Mohawk Airline crash in 1963 and is said to have rescued 12 people from the burning wreckage has died.

Richard “Dick” Ziegler passed away on Saturday surrounded by his wife and children. He was 83.

Ziegler is believed to be the last surviving responder to the Mohawk Airlines Flight 121 crash that occurred on July 2, 1963, according to IAFF Local 1636.

Ziegler was an airport mechanic and was cross-trained as a firefighter. He also served as a Spencerport volunteer firefighter since 1962.

IAFF Local 1636 said the plane crashed during takeoff from Rochester Airport en route to Newark International Airport. The crash killed seven people and injured 36.

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