Kinglobjaw's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘accident’

I was just about to go to sleep when I got a text message from CNN about a Continental plane crashing. I decided to get back online and look it up. Turns out it was CO flight 3407, an Express flight operated by Colgan Airlines, coming in from Newark, NJ.

From what the media is saying, it seems that this will not have a happy ending like US1549. 

The Buffalo News has reported:

Forty-nine people reportedly died when an aircraft identified as a Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house in Clarence Center shortly after 10 p.m. last night, starting a huge fire which poured thick smoke throughout the hamlet.

Unconfirmed reports from a source at Buffalo Niagara International Airport said that the dead included 44 passengers, four crew members and a person on the ground.

County Executive Chris Collins said that there may have been as many as 50 people aboard the plane and crew members had reported mechanical problems as they approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Several injured people were taken from the scene to Erie County Medical Center for treatment.

There will be a news conference at 4AM Eastern Time on Friday, February 13, 2009. At this point, Continental is advising to call the following numbers,

• 1-800-523-3273
• 1-800-621-3263

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the passengers, crew and people on the ground, as well as their families, friends and loved ones. May those who were involved in this accident, rest in peace.

-Mark

Earlier this evening I received a text message from CNN Alerts about a US Airways aircraft landing in the Hudson River. I had very little information at the time of the message; however, by the time I got home everyone had been talking about US Airways 1549. The first thing I did after I logged onto my computer I checked my email and received a message from a friend of mine who works for US Airways. The message said she wasn’t not on US1549 , but she was safe and sound at home. The fact that I didn’t know what was going on, but got an email saying someone was not onboard a particular flight made me think this was very serious. It was.

By now most of you already know what happened, so I need not explain. I will leave you with one thought however. I found this photo on Flickr and it is by far the best account of what exactly happened today. In my opinion, no picture nor video from the media is as powerful and chilling at the same time. The photo was taken by Gregory Lam- link to photo found here.

I applaud the entire crew of US Airways flight 1549 and am grateful for this miraculous outcome. The crew did a commendable job in evacuating this Airbus A320. It is my hope that anyone who was hurt or injured will make a full and speedy recovery.

US Airways has issued a press release and a series of updates on it’s web page. Visit the “Press Releases” section of the USAirways.com website for further information. US Airways has also established a Care Team that can be reached at 1-800-679-8215. It is my personal opinion, that at this point, only family members of passengers and crew should be utilizing this phone number. Media and other parties interested should patiently wait to be briefed by a representative from US Airways.

-Mark