NationStates Jolt Archive

So it seems that a plane has crashed into a house in Buffalo New York. No real details yet...my friend (who works for them) just got the text from his boss. It's posted on CNN, but with no details. Post as you find something, I'll try to add it in.

Particular information I'd like to get for my friend: any information regarding crew names (flight attendants and pilots)
Continental Plane Crash in Buffalo, NY: Breaking General
Edit: Continental Connection 3407, Operated by Colgan. Massive fire, house has been leveled, with reports of multiple deaths. 48 people on board.

Edit 2: News report out of Buffalo
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/577959.html

Edit 3: More news reports coming in:

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE51C12T20090213)
AP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090213/ap_on_re_us/plane_into_home)

According to eyewitness, strange engine noise, crashed at 10:17, no spiral, but seen crashing

Edit 4: New York State Police confirm all passengers and crew dead, in addition to one person on the ground. Death toll is currently 49.

Good Lord, that's terrible.

Good Lord, that's terrible.

one reported fatality on the ground, but nothing about crew or passengers...my friend is really worried about crew since he worked for the operating company for 5 years

Sarkhaan, the link you provided's been updated to say 44 passengers, 4 crew, and the man in the house have been reported dead. I'm sorry for your friend.

Sarkhaan, the link you provided's been updated to say 44 passengers, 4 crew, and the man in the house have been reported dead. I'm sorry for your friend.
Thanks for the update. We still aren't sure he knew them, since he left the job a year ago, but it is pretty likely that he's lost atleast somone given the size of the company

The Special Report interrupted CSI, and I'll admit it right now: I actually had a moment of relief when they announced the crash, because the first thing I thought was "President Obama has been shot." :(

The Special Report interrupted CSI, and I'll admit it right now: I actually had a moment of relief when they announced the crash, because the first thing I thought was "President Obama has been shot." :(
it was luckily a small plane...I almost doubt this would have made a thread on NS if it wern't for the fact that my friend worked for the company.

:-( thoose poor people

That's sad. As always, things like this re-enforce my rather enormous fear of flying.

it was luckily a small plane...I almost doubt this would have made a thread on NS if it wern't for the fact that my friend worked for the company.

A small plane where 48 people are dead. I highly doubt that friends and family will think "luckily it was a small plane".

That's sad. As always, things like this re-enforce my rather enormous fear of flying.



A small plane where 48 people are dead. I highly doubt that friends and family will think "luckily it was a small plane".

Better 48 (well, 49) than the potential of 853 on an A-380.

And actually, yeah, those who have lost people tend to find it lucky that more don't have to go through the same pain they do.

Better 48 (well, 49) than the potential of 853 on an A-380.

And actually, yeah, those who have lost people tend to find it lucky that more don't have to go through the same pain they do.

better? surely better is 0 deaths?

That's sad. As always, things like this re-enforce my rather enormous fear of flying.

Safer than driving, period. I got over my own severe fear by just thinking "I'm in the aluminum tube in the air at 500 mph -- there's nothing I can do about it. I may as well relax."

better? surely better is 0 deaths?

Better 49 than 853? Yes.

Better 0 than 49? Fuck yes.

Just because Y is better than Z doesnt exclude A, B, C, ....W, and X from being better than both Y and Z.

I often feel very shitty for having thoughts like this, but this tragic incident seems to be the exact antithesis of the Hudson landing. Were I superstitious, I'd almost think that the "gods" were owed something from last month's "miracle".

Apologies if that offends anyone, but these ideas sometimes spring unbidden to mind.

I often feel very shitty for having thoughts like this, but this tragic incident seems to be the exact antithesis of the Hudson landing. Were I superstitious, I'd almost think that the "gods" were owed something from last month's "miracle".

Apologies if that offends anyone, but these ideas sometimes spring unbidden to mind.
actually, my friend said the same...its very "final destination"...the last fatal crash was 2006 iirc, where 49 people died. seems the odds stack up for a while

Better 48 (well, 49) than the potential of 853 on an A-380.

And actually, yeah, those who have lost people tend to find it lucky that more don't have to go through the same pain they do.

And saying what you did makes it sound like their lost lives are insignificant. I mean c'mon, you said so yourself that it probably wouldn't have made a thread here. It's only 49 people dead, how is that news? Tell that to the family members.

Hell, the other plane crash where they all survived made the news...

Safer than driving, period. I got over my own severe fear by just thinking "I'm in the aluminum tube in the air at 500 mph -- there's nothing I can do about it. I may as well relax."

Oh, I know it's safer. I just never feel that way. Nothing I do calms me down. I spent my last plane trip shaking and sweating.

EDIT: Sarkaan just reminded me.... a plane may be safer and have less crashes, but at least in a car you have a better chance of survival. No such thing as a small fender bender in a plane...:p

And saying what you did makes it sound like their lost lives are insignificant. I mean c'mon, you said so yourself that it probably wouldn't have made a thread here. It's only 49 people dead, how is that news? Tell that to the family members.

Hell, the other plane crash where they all survived made the news...

Given that I'm only up because I'm talking to a friend who may have lost 4 friends on this flight, I hardly find it to be "insignificant". And no, I don't think this would have made a thread here. Even now, I don't think it will be a huge thread, given what I'm used to on here. I'd like to be proven wrong, but I rarely am. It doesn't say so much about the news worthyness of the story, only about the forum (not good, not bad).

and yeah, a crash where everyone survives is exceptionally rare. That tends to make news.

Given that I'm only up because I'm talking to a friend who may have lost 4 friends on this flight, I hardly find it to be "insignificant". And no, I don't think this would have made a thread here. Even now, I don't think it will be a huge thread, given what I'm used to on here. I'd like to be proven wrong, but I rarely am. It doesn't say so much about the news worthyness of the story, only about the forum (not good, not bad).

and yeah, a crash where everyone survives is exceptionally rare. That tends to make news.

And this crash made the news too (as most do anyways). It is on the front page of Yahoo.

...the last fatal crash was 2006 iirc, where 49 people died.

Really? That's kinda nuts.

Also, this sucks. It's too bad.

And this crash made the news too (as most do anyways). It is on the front page of Yahoo.
Yes, it makes the news. What I said was about it making it to NSG. And if it does, it tends to be a very quick thread. Followed by bickering. Which I'm really not interested in doing right now. Good? Good.
Really? That's kinda nuts.

Also, this sucks. It's too bad.

It seems I was wrong. This is the most fatal since 2006 (same number dead, one less on the actual plane), but there have been a few very small crashes over the years.

I no it's terrible all people on board dead imagine how there fanilys feel :eek: :eek:

Given that I'm only up because I'm talking to a friend who may have lost 4 friends on this flight, I hardly find it to be "insignificant". And no, I don't think this would have made a thread here. Even now, I don't think it will be a huge thread, given what I'm used to on here. I'd like to be proven wrong, but I rarely am. It doesn't say so much about the news worthyness of the story, only about the forum (not good, not bad).

You monster.

Oh, I know it's safer. I just never feel that way. Nothing I do calms me down. I spent my last plane trip shaking and sweating.

EDIT: Sarkaan just reminded me.... a plane may be safer and have less crashes, but at least in a car you have a better chance of survival. No such thing as a small fender bender in a plane...:pWell but plane crash does not equal death. In fact if you want to raise your odds of survival, book a seat toward the back of the plane. People in the rear seats have something like a 40% better chance to survive a crash.

In fact according to the CASA website:

"Many people believe that if your aircraft crashes, you're dead anyway. Wrong. Over 70% of airline accidents are survivable. 71% of people who die in survivable crashes, do so after the aircraft comes to a complete stop. In many cases its because they are unprepared for the crash."

http://www.casa.gov.au/airsafe/trip/emergen.htm

In fact according to the CASA website:

"Many people believe that if your aircraft crashes, you're dead anyway. Wrong. Over 70% of airline accidents are survivable. 71% of people who die in survivable crashes, do so after the aircraft comes to a complete stop. In many cases its because they are unprepared for the crash."

That's hard to believe. On the other hand, it's an Australian source, so dingoes probably account for most of that 71%. I wouldn't expect the number to exceed 40% around here.

I grew up in Buffalo, NY. That's my hometown. I am saddened to hear of the crash. :(

That's sad. As always, things like this re-enforce my rather enormous fear of flying.

A small plane where 48 people are dead. I highly doubt that friends and family will think "luckily it was a small plane".

Actually it is more dangerous to travel by car than by plane. With the train being the least dangerous.

I grew up in Buffalo, NY. That's my hometown. I am saddened to hear of the crash. :(

same here. I was hoping after the Hudson crash there'd be no more crashes (especially since there had been nothing fatal in aviation for a few years now). Also, this is just sad:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,492225,00.html