Air Florida was a United States regional and low-cost airline that operated primarily in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Founded in the deregulation era, it expanded aggressively after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, growing from a small Florida intrastate carrier into a transatlantic and transcontinental operator. The airline is most infamously remembered for Air Florida Flight 90, which crashed into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., on January 13, 1982, shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport during a severe winter storm, killing 78 people. The accident was attributed to crew failure to activate engine anti-ice systems and improper use of engine thrust settings. Following the crash, Air Florida suffered severe financial and reputational damage. The airline filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 1984, having never fully recovered from the disaster and mounting competitive pressures.