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IMAGE SOURCE: iStockPhoto / In memory… / author: JHorrocks
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Friday was a somber day as family and friends remembered the victims of the crash of Continental Flight 3407.
The Continental commuter plane nose-dived into a home near Buffalo, N.Y. Thursday night sparking a fiery explosion that killed 49 onboard and one person inside the home.
The crash happened so suddenly that the pilot didn't even have time to broadcast a Mayday alert.
Maddy Loftus, 24, a former women's hockey player at St. Mary's in Winona and at Buffalo State, was on her way home for a weekend reunion of female hockey players.
Beverly Eckert was a Sept. 11 widow who became an anti-terrorism activist after her husband was killed in the World Trade Center in 2001.
Eckert was on her way to her hometown of Buffalo to celebrate her husband’s 58th birthday. She had just recently met with President Obama and other 9/11 family members to discuss ways to fight terrorism.
Also aboard was Alison Des Forges, one of the world’s foremost experts on the 1994 Rwanda genocide and its aftermath, said New York-based Human Rights Watch in a statement.
Doug Wielinski, of Clarence, N.Y. was killed when Flight 3407 crashed into his house. His wife and daughter, 22, escaped with only minor injuries.
The Erie County Health Commissioner said it will take days to recover the remains of the victims and weeks to identify them.
The names of the flight crew as reported by FoxNews:
Marvin Renslow, Colgan Air Captain, joined the company in September 2005. He had flown 3,379 hours with the airline.
Rebecca Shaw, Colgan Air First Officer, joined the company in January 2008. She had flown 2,244 hours with the airline.
Matilda Quintero, Flight Attendant, joined the company in May 2008.
Donna Prisco, Flight Attendant, joined the company in May 2008.
Joseph Zuffoletto, Off-duty Captain. He joined the company in September 2005.
The relatively new aircraft was registered last April and had a clean safety record, leaving investigators with few clues as to why the aircraft suddenly plunged just minutes before its planned landing.
A toll-free number has been established for families and friends of those on flight 3407. That number is 800-621-3263. Only family members and friends should call this number.
Updates will be posted on ColganAir.com. #