Clarence New York Plane Crash Tragically Kills 50
A commuter plane – Continental Connection Flight 3407 from Newark, N.J. -- missed the Buffalo airport coming in for a landing and crashed into a suburban house in a fiery crash. According to this Associated Press news report, 49 people aboard and one person in the home were killed in this nation’s first deadly crash of a commercial airliner since 2006. Two others inside the home, Karen Wielinski, 57, and her 22-year-old daughter, Jill, escaped with minor injuries.
Official reports state that the plane was new and had a clean safety record. William Voss, the current president of the Flight Safety Foundation, proposed that the nearly vertical drop of the plane suggests a sudden loss of control. He also said that mechanical failure or ice forming on the plane’s wings could have caused alteration in aerodynamics in this New York plane crash.
Apparently, witnesses heard the 74-seat Q400 Bombardier aircraft sputtering before it fell directly through the roof of the house, shooting flames at least 50 feet high.
Erie County Emergency Coordinator David Bissonette said, "It was a direct hit and it's remarkable that it only took one house. As devastating as that is, it could have wiped out the entire neighborhood."
The report stated that a 9/11 widow on board was identified as Beverly Eckert. She was heading to Buffalo for a celebration of what would have been her husband's 58th birthday.
Continental Airlines said relatives and friends of those on Fight 3407 who want to give or receive information about those on board can call a special family assistance number, 1-800-621-3263.
There are many dangers well known to pilots that can interfere with flying an aircraft. No one expects that their flight could result in fatality, and it is tragic when aviation accidents such as this occur. The Federal Aviation Act and Regulations establishes a set of safety standards for air planes that family members of those injured or killed in a plane crash should be familiar with.
Our firm wishes to express their heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those involved in this terrible accident. We are highly skilled in the area of aviation law and are here to answer any questions that you may have regarding this accident. During this difficult time, if you are looking for answers, support or guidance, please call our experienced New York plane accident attorneys at 212-986-7353 for a free consultation.
