6 400-09 – Continental Flight 3407 from Newark to Buffalo
From Google Gemini:
Continental Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air as Continental Connection, was a scheduled passenger flight that tragically crashed on February 12, 2009, near Buffalo, New York. Here’s a summary of the key points:
- The Incident:
- The flight, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop aircraft, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport.
- While on approach to the airport, the aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall and crashed into a residential area in Clarence Center, New York.
- The crash resulted in the deaths of all 49 people on board (45 passengers and 4 crew members) and one person on the ground.
- Cause of the Crash:
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the accident was the captain’s inappropriate response to the activation of the stick shaker, which led to an aerodynamic stall from which the airplane did not recover.
- Contributing factors included:
- The flight crew’s failure to monitor airspeed.
- Failure to adhere to sterile cockpit procedures.
- The captain’s failure to effectively manage the flight.
- Colgan Air’s inadequate procedures.
- Impact and Aftermath:
- The crash led to significant reforms in aviation safety regulations, particularly concerning pilot training and experience requirements, and fatigue management.
- Families of the victims played a crucial role in advocating for these changes, resulting in the Airline Safety Act of 2010.
- The event left a lasting impact on the community of Clarence Center, and the broader aviation industry.
In essence, Continental Flight 3407 was a tragic accident that highlighted critical safety issues in regional airline operations, leading to important changes aimed at preventing similar disasters.
This air incident was the same year as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ – less than a month later. That flight left Newark Liberty (EWR), so the initial Family Assistance Center (FAC) was established there. I got the call from GH at the state coordinating chapter in Princeton, that an airplane had crashed in Buffalo. She said that since it left from Newark, the initial FAC would be located there. She had already reached out to partners in New York City (both the Red Cross and others – thank you, JT) for mental health, wellness and spiritual care. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) NTSBhas a national agreement with the Red Cross to support FACs for these activities. While the airlines technically run/operate the FAC, it is the NTSB which sets the parameters, is in charge, etc. This FAC was hastily set up in the club lounge of Continental, past security. When I got there, there were two state troopers guarding the entrance to the club.
One of the interesting things about these incidents is that the airlines and others rarely understand the independent role of the Red Cross in supporting the families adversely impacted. Sadly, there is a whole script – a choreography of actions – of what happens during the initial hours and days of these incidents. And since it is not something which happens every day – or thankfully even every year now due to increased air travel safety across the globe – people forget what to do, how to best serve people in need, and what roles others may have in doing the same. GH was involved in 9/11 at the Pentagon, which also had an air incident FAC associated with it. She knew the ropes, so to speak. I was just learning every moment I was there. I had one disaster mental health professional (licensed) volunteer in our chapter – special thank you and shout out to CS! – and he came to the Newark airport to help, too.
The FAC at Newark was not stood up very long – it was really a conduit for getting families to Buffalo, where another chapter set up a longer term FAC. That Red Cross team helped with the memorial services, crash site visits, and more. Later, they helped get families to the NTSB meetings where the crash results were reported.
Later that same year near New York City, a small airplane collided with a tourist helicopter, killing nine people. The helicopter took off from – and was operated out of – Linden, New Jersey, which was one of the 21 towns in my chapter. That same mental health volunteer helped the families with what is called a remote viewing session for the NTSB meeting. It’s when they set up a private closed-caption television site to watch the session in Washington, for people who cannot travel to be there in person. Having a Red Cross mental health volunteer there by your side, is something the Red Cross does, too.
Lessons Learned
- On major media covered incidents, mobilized volunteers who show up directly at the scene can be swamped by the press. This happened to CS, as he got out of his personal vehicle and put on his Red Cross vest (as he had done multiple times at local fires). The media was in the same airport parking garage and he was challenged as to what was happening, what was he doing, and more. CS is not a public affairs person – nor should he have to be – so he got through that gauntlet quickly and on through the airport to security.
- CS also learned that its a challenge when the FAC is on the other side of the security check point at an airport. I was in the FAC, when he arrived and mentioned that he had to give up his prized pocket knife which he mistakenly forgot was in his DAT vest. I don’t think he got it back.
Lessons Applied
As I mentioned above, since these incidents do not happen often – thank heavens – it is hard to retain the knowledge and experience from these air incidents. Even harder to train and exercise others, too.
- We made sure every Region had at least one unmarked Red Cross vehicle – for exactly these type of incidents. When we need to stage responders nearby and then arrive ‘undercover’ all together. We also made arrangements with state officials for escorts and access, to get to help the people who needed us, faster. Again, no lights and sirens, but sometimes a clear path to the solutions.
- We built exercises and training, in coordination with government partners across the state, to get better at cooperating with each other and knowing the strengths and capabilities each group brought to the incident. This is an ongoing project which – as people who are involved come and go, airlines merge and devolve, etc. – the NTSB helps quite a bit with leading these training sessions as often as they are invited.
- There still remains quite a gap in understanding as to what type of incidents are covered by the NTSB and what is not – and where the Red Cross is needed versus required. I have taken this experience in understanding, training on, and somewhat operating a FAC and used it to advocate for consistency in usage for incidents when the NTSB is not involved (school shootings, bus crashes, the list is never ending unfortunately). It really is a best practice.
Until early 2025, the Continental Flight 3407 was the last commercial airline flight incident where everyone perished, in the United States. The mid-air collision in Washington, D.C. between an airplane and a helicopter on January 29, 2025 was also supported by the Red Cross, through its continuing partnership with the NTSB. And a Red Cross mental health volunteer from New Jersey (thanks, KH!) went to D.C. to support, as well.
Family Assistance Center, as organized by the National Transportation Safety Board, where the Red Cross has a designated role for supporting families.
National Transportation Safety Board
Disaster Action Team
