Airliner Went Down Nine Years Ago Near Buffalo, NY

On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 went down in Clarence Center, NY, near Buffalo resulting in the fatal injury of all 49 people on board, and one person on the ground.

ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll released a statement Wednesday as the “Families of Continental Flight 3407” gathered in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the anniversary of the accident.

“Colgan Air Flight 3407 had a profound impact on our industry, and in its aftermath, positive changes in aviation safety emerged. The tireless efforts of the Colgan families to advocate for strengthened pilot qualifications and training requirements was instrumental in helping to pass the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010.

“Since that time, there have been no Part 121 airline accidents with passenger fatalities in the United States, whereas in the two decades prior, more than 1,100 people were killed in U.S. airline accidents. The tenacity and dedication of these families, coupled with the collective efforts of ALPA and other aviation safety organizations, is why our country has, and will continue to have, an unparalleled record in aviation safety.

“Today, the Colgan families are back in Washington, D.C., fighting attempts to weaken these vital safety rules. As we have for nine years, ALPA stands by the Colgan families, and together, we will work with Members of Congress to keep these hard-won, safety-focused training, qualification, and experience requirements for new airline pilots from being diminished.”

(Source: ALPA news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.alpa.org