Monday marks 15 years since a passenger plane crashed shortly before its scheduled landing at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing 50 people.
Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed into a home on Long Street in Clarence, about six miles northeast of the airport, Feb. 12, 2009. All 49 people on the plane were killed, along with one man inside the home.
The National Transportation Safety Board ruled the pilots’ improper response to a low-speed warning led the plane to stall. Among contributing factors were the crew’s inattention to airspeeds and violation of regulations prohibiting unnecessary conversation during takeoffs and landings.
The crash led to sweeping airline safety reforms, spearheaded by the victims' families — including one that requires pilots to log 1,500 flight hours in order to work for an airline.
The families joined Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer via Zoom Monday morning to push for the Federal Aviation Administration to reauthorize flight safety measures.
As a group, the 3407 families, we knew something had to be done and we had to do it," said Karen Eckert, who lost her sister in the crash. "We've had many fights for airline safety over the last 15 years, and I have to tell you this last one was hard.
The families will gather Monday evening at the memorial site for a vigil.