On November 14, 1970, a plane carrying the Marshall University football team crashed near Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 people on board. This included almost the entire team, coaches, fans, and crew. The team was returning from a game in North Carolina and had flown for the first time that season.

Among those who died were head coach Rick Tolley, athletic director Charles Kautz, 37 players, and 36 others, including local officials. The crash was caused by pilot error or a faulty altimeter, according to a safety investigation.

Marshall University still honors the victims with a memorial fountain on campus and holds yearly ceremonies. The tragedy was featured in the 2006 movie We Are Marshall. In 2023, a scholarship fund was created to help the families of those who died attend the university.