20th Anniversary-Los Angeles Riots-Airline Flight Viewpoint

[Doug Robertson]

Today, 29 April 2012 is the 20th anniversary of the paralyzingly destructive Los Angeles riots precipitated by a court decision verdict in favor of the Los Angeles Police Department. I write of my situation in trying to fly from DFW in Texas that day to Los Angeles LAX, and the surreal night view of Los Angeles on fire with TOTAL BAN of vehicle traffic except police, fire and other emergency vehicles. Snipers on freeway overpasses required our final, much delayed landing at LAX with a tailwind from over the water of the Pacific Ocean.

My article on that flight written some years ago can be found by accessing Articles on the bottom of this page, clicking on Aircraft History, then Airliners-Some Observations on Aircraft, Flights Good and Bad.

Please have a look in commemoration of that momentous historic event, hopefully never to be repeated.

[Doug Robertson]

Los Angeles Riots

Length: Three days (beginning 29 April 1992)

People killed: 55

Injuries reported: 2,325

Buildings destroyed or damaged: 1,573 including more than 200 liquor stores

Total estimated costs: $1 billion, including $735 million of property damage

Affected areas: Scattered areas of Los Angeles from South Side to the suburban San Fernando Valley, parts of downtown and midtown: cities of Compton, Inglewood, Long Beach and Lynnwood; unincorporated sections of Los Angeles County.

Source: Ventura County Star, 29 April 2012.