After refuelling , pilots James Thain and Kenneth Rayment twice abandoned GiveUp take-off Self_motion because of boost surging Motion in the left Departing engine .

Fearing they would get Getting too far behind schedule Arranging , Captain Thain rejected Agree_or_refuse_to_act an overnight stay Temporary_stay in Munich in favour of a third take-off Self_motion attempt .

Fearing the aircraft might explode Attack , Thain began Process_start evacuating Removing passengers while Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg helped Assistance pull survivors from the wreckage .

An investigation Criminal_investigation by West German airport authorities originally blamed Judgment_communication Thain , saying Statement he did not de-ice the aircraft 's wings , despite eyewitness statements Statement to the contrary .

Thain was cleared in 1968 , ten years after the incident Catastrophe .