The first deadly commercial plane crash since 2006 occurred last night, Thursday, January 12, 2009, when a commuter plane fell into an eastern Buffalo suburban home, according to an Associated Press news story. The fiery crash killed 49 aboard and one person in the house. Two others were also in the home but survived with minor injuries.
The crew of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 from Newark, N.J., became aware of significant ice buildup on the wings and windshield right before the plane began pitching and rolling violently, leading to its flaming crash. Officials have stated that the cause of this aviation disaster has not been determined just yet; however, ice on a plane’s wings has been responsible for many major air catastrophes in the past.
Official reports state that the plane was new and had a clean safety record. The plane went through a “severe pitch and roll” experience after positioning its flaps for landing, said Steve Chealander, spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board.
Doug Hartmayer, a spokesman for Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which runs the airport, said: “The plane simply dropped off the radar screen.”
One witness who drove to the site said, “All we were seeing was 50- to 100-foot flames and a pile of rubble on the ground. It looked like the house just got destroyed the instant it got hit.”
The report confirmed a 9/11 widow was on board the plane. 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 Flight 3407 can call a special family assistance number, 1-800-621-3263 for information.
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