50 People Dead. Plane Crashes Into Buffalo Suburban Home
50 killed in plane crash near BuffaloA Continental Airlines flight operated by Colgan Air crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York, late Thursday, killing all 49 people on the plane and a man in the home, authorities said. Two women in the home survived and were treated for minor injuries. "This is easily the saddest day in the history of our airline," said Philip Trenary, CEO of Colgan Air. developing story
50 passengers Dead. Plane Crashes Into Buffalo Suburban Home
"This is easily the saddest day in the history of our airline," said Philip Trenary, CEO of Colgan Air, which operated the flight for Continental.
Continental Connection Flight 3407, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 74-seat turboprop, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo when it went down at around 10:20 p.m. ET, about seven miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
A National Transportation Safety Board official said Friday morning the plane's voice and cockpit data recorders had been recovered from the wreckage and were being taken to Washington, D.C., for analysis.
Meanwhile, firefighters continued to battle a blaze at the crash site and didn't expected to have it extinguished until Friday afternoon, officials said.
Dave Bissonette, Clarence Center's natural disaster services coordinator, said it was "clearly a direct hit" on the house. See what's left of the plane »
Four people were injured at the crash site, including a mother and daughter inside the house that was hit. They suffered minor injuries and were treated and released from a Williamsville hospital, a spokeswoman said.
Two firefighters also were brought in for treatment of smoke inhalation and minor injuries. iReport.com: Flames rise from crash site
A Colgan Air spokesperson identified the crew as pilot Capt. Marvin Renslow, first officer Rebecca Shaw and flight attendants Matilda Quintero and Donna Prisco. An off-duty pilot, Capt. Joseph Zuffoletto, was also aboard.
CNN has listened to a tape of communications between air traffic control and the flight crew. The first officer was calm. The plane was cleared for approach. About two minutes later, the air traffic controller came back, his voice full of stress. Radar contact was lost.
